DRAGONS PICKED THIRD IN KJCCC; 20TH IN NJCAA PRESEASON POLL

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The 20th season of Hutchinson Community College women's soccer as the Blue Dragons selected high in the KJCCC Preseason Coaches' Poll and are a nationally ranked team in the preseason national rankings.

Both the conference and national preseason polls were released this week with the Blue Dragons selected to finish third in the KJCCC preseason coaches poll and are No. 20 in the NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer national rankings.

The Blue Dragons enter the 2024 season coming off a 12-5-3 season in 2023 that included a third-place conference finish, but an opening-round exit from the Region 6 Tournament.

Returning from last season are 11 players, including all-conference players midfielder Kaitlyn Edwards (1st team), forward Katharina Marx (2nd team) and goalkeeper Karsyn Slothower (2nd team).

The Blue Dragons have already played one preseason scrimmage, defeating Allen Community College 4-1 in a weather-shortened contest in Wednesday night at the Salthawk Soccer Complex. The Blue Dragons play Southwestern College at 6 p.m. on Sunday in another home scrimmage before opening the 2024 regular season next Thursday, August 22 against NOC-Enid at 6 p.m. at the Salthawk Sports Complex.

The Blue Dragons received 64 points and one of the nine first-place votes in the KJCCC Coaches' Poll.

Cowley is the preseason pick to capture the 2024 league title. The Tigers received seven first-place votes and 76 points in the balloting. Butler was picked second with 66 points and one first-place vote. Barton is picked to finish fourth in the KJCCC this season.

2024 KJCCC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Cowley (7) – 76
2. Butler (1) – 66
3. Hutchinson (1) – 64
4. Barton – 56
5. Kansas City – 50
6. Coffeyville – 30
7. Garden City – 27
8. Dodge City – 24
9. Seward County – 12

The Blue Dragons received seven points in the NJCAA preseason national poll and are one of five KJCCC teams in the rankings to start the season.

Cowley is ranked No. 10, Butler No. 12, Kansas City is No. 15, Barton is No. 17 and the Blue Dragons are at No. 20.

Defending national champion Iowa Western is the unanimous pick atop the 2024 national preseason rankings. The Reivers are followed by Eastern Florida State, Seminole State, Tyler and Arizona Western.

NJCAA DIV. I NATIONAL PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Iowa Western (9) - 140
2. Eastern Florida State - 133
3. Seminole State - 126
4. Tyler - 119
5. Arizona Western - 112
6. Salt Lake - 105
7. Navarro - 98
8. Daytona State - 91
9. Hill College -84
10. Cowley - 77
11. Monroe - 70
12. Butler - 63
13. Monroe - 56
14. Laramie County - 49
15. Kansas City - 42
16. Casper - 35
17. Barton - 28
18. Eastern Arizona - 21
19. Motlow State - 14
20. Hutchinson - 7