EDWARDS’ GOAL HELPS DRAGONS EARN 1-1 DRAW AT BARTON

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

GREAT BEND – Sophomore Kaitlyn Edwards scored a game-tying goal in the 73rd minute on Saturday to help the No. 18-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team earn a key conference road point against the Barton Cougars.

Edwards' goal helped the Blue Dragons to a 1-1 draw with the Cougars, who were receiving votes in last week's NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer rankings.

Hutchinson is now 4-1-2 overall and 3-1-2 (11 points in the KJCCC). The Blue Dragons play host to No. 11 Kansas City on Wednesday at the Salthawk Soccer Complex. Barton is now 3-2-2 overall and 1-2-2 in the KJCCC.

The Blue Dragons weren't able to muster much offense in the first half going into a strong south wind and trailed Barton 1-0 at halftime. It took a while in the second half for the Dragons to create scoring chances, but a golden chance game in the 73rd minute.

Freshman Kira Artmann directed a free kick from left of the goal toward the right post. Edwards put a header past Barton goalkeeper Mio Tanaka from 7 yards out, tying the game at 1-1 with 17:34 remaining in the second half.

Edwards scored her seventh goal of the season. Artmann has assists in 4 of 7 games played this season.

The pace of the game opened up after Edwards' goal.

Blue Dragon goalkeeper Karsyn Slothower (3-1-1) made two saves in the final 8 minutes. Tanaka had three saves in the final 10 minutes.

Barton took a 1-0 lead with 1:27 to play in the first half. Barton's Leticia Quadros' free kick from 35-yards out was saved by Slothower, but Fiona Jolly scored on loose ball for a 1-0 lead.

Slothower had a season-high nine saves for Hutchinson, bringing her career total to 121 saves, third-most in Blue Dragon history.

Barton out-shot the Blue Dragons 17-6 overall and 10-5 in shots on goal.

The Blue Dragons are now 21-7-4 all-time against Hutchinson.