DRAGONS PRODUCE DEFENSIVE GEM IN WIN OVER COUGARS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team scored two goals 1 minute, 53 second apart in the first half and then let the defense take over in a huge KJCCC home test against the Barton Cougars on Wednesday at the Salthawk Sports Complex.

The No. 16-ranked Blue Dragons produced a defensive masterpiece against the relentless speed of the Cougars and earned a 2-0 victory that clinched a Region 6 home first-round playoff game in November.

Now 5-0-1 in their last six games, the Blue Dragons improved to 9-2-4 overall and 8-2-4 (28 points) in the KJCCC. Now tied for third in the league with Cowley, the Blue Dragons have a 10-point lead over Barton (7-5-3, 5-5-3 – 18 points – KJCCC) with two games to play. Hutchinson travels to KJCCC leader and seventh-ranked Kansas City at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The Blue Dragons produced their seventh overall shutout of the season and fourth-straight shutout on Wednesday – which is the 15th time in program history to post at least four consecutive shutouts.

Sophomore goalkeeper Karsyn Slothower (4-2-3) had eight saves in her third shutout of the season.

Only under true duress once in the contest, the Blue Dragon defensive line of Anastasia Pokrandt, Kira Artmann, Nancy Stefanek and Teagan Garrison, with help from midfielders, Lorena Gomes, Kaylee Monk and Kaitlyn Edwards, turned in one of their top overall defensive performances of the season.

The Cougars out-shot the Blue Dragon 20-7 overall, including 14-0 in the second half as Hutchinson protected its 2-0 halftime cushion.

The Blue Dragons had to defend nine Barton corner kicks and four defensive zone direct kicks. Only once did the Dragons have to defend a scramble right in front of the goal.

Hutchinson preserved a 0-0 tie in the in the 22nd minute when Barton's Leticia Quadros delivered a free kick that Slothower deflected for a save. With the ball still loose in the box, Adna Mahdi had a nearly wide-open net, but Artmann legally blocked down the shot and the Dragons cleared the ball without further Barton shot attempts in that sequence.

The Blue Dragon offense got going about five minutes later as Katharina Marx and Haley Rogers both scored with help from the other within a span of 1:53 of the first half.

The first goal was set up by a strong run to the next from the right corner by Rogers, whose deft touch pass to Marx was hammered into the upper left corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead with 18:11 remaining in the half. That was Marx's ninth goal of the season.

Less than two minutes later, Marx sent a low cross into the box that was initially deflected by Barton goalkeeper Mio Tanaka. Rogers was right there to blast home the rebound and give the Blue Dragons a 2-0 lead with 16:18 to play in the first half. Rogers scored her team-high 12th goal of the season.

Slothower became the sixth Blue Dragon goalkeeper to register at least 10 career shutouts and her 16th career win moves her into seventh place on that Blue Dragon career goalkeeper list.

The Dragons are now 21-7-5 all-time against Barton.