NO. 20 DRAGONS PLAY TO 2-2 DRAW WITH SEWARD COUNTY

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

LIBERAL – The No. 20-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team had a rare occurrence on Saturday in its Jayhawk Conference match at Seward County.

Leading by two goals at halftime, the Blue Dragons saw that lead disappear in the second half as Seward County scored the equalizer with just 3:26 remaining for a 2-2 KJCCC draw at Liberal High School.

The Blue Dragons are now 2-0-1 (1-0-1 KJCCC). The Dragons will play host to Dodge City at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Salthawk Sports Complex. Seward County is now 1-1-2 (0-1-1 KJCCC).

Saturday's game was the 348th game played in program history. Saturday was only the 12th time the Blue Dragons were unable to hold a halftime lead and secure a victory (seven losses and five ties).

Sophomore Kaitlyn Edwards scored her fourth goal of the season and freshman Ana Pokrandt notched her second goal while redshirt freshman Haley Rogers had two assists.

Freshman goalkeeper Marina Lopez had seven saves in her first career start.

The Blue Dragons were out-shot for the first time this season, 20-11. Seward County out-shot the Dragons 12-4 in the second half.

Seward County's Dora Dinarte scored both of the Saints goals. Seward goalkeeper Mia Kamei made four saves, only one in the second half.

The Blue Dragons had the possession advantage for most of the first half, scoring in the 14th minute when Rogers' corner kick was redirected right back to her. She then played a cross into the box that Edwards headed in for a 1-0 with 31:47 to play in the first half.

The Dragons took a 2-0 lead when Rogers' corner kick was headed into the goal by Pokrandt with 9:40 remaining in the half. Rogers now has two assists and a goal directly from corner kicks.

Hutchinson maintained its two-goal margin late in the first half when a Dragon foul just outside the box gave the Saints a direct free kick that caromed off the cross bar and was eventually cleared by the Dragon defense. Hutchinson led 2-0 at halftime.

Seward County won the possession battle in the second half, but the Blue Dragons were able to maintain the pressure without giving up scoring opportunities to the Saints.

That started to change in the middle stages of the second half. After the Saints played a ball into the box, the Blue Dragons were called for a hand ball and Seward was awarded a penalty kick. Dinarte converted the PK and cut the Dragon lead to 2-1 with 27:08 to play in regulation time.

With the Saints creating steady pressure and the Dragons unable to get a good clear, Seward seized the opportunity when the Saints beat the Dragon defense to a long cross to the left side. Dinarte took a pass, worked her way into the box and scored from 15 yards out on a low ground ball to the right corner with 3:26 remaining to tie the game at 2-2.

The Dragons were able to make a couple of runs on the sideline in the final minutes of the half, but Seward's defense clogged the middle to keep the Dragons to secure the 13th all-time tie in Blue Dragon history.