DRAGONS FALL IN PK’S IN REGION 6 TITLE GAME

Blue Dragon defender Teagan Garrison works against a Cowley player in the first half of Saturday's Region 6 game against Cowley. The Dragons lost 4-2 in penalty kicks. (Photo courtesy David Mitchell)

November 9, 2024

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

OVERLAND PARK – The Hutchinson Community College's magical run through the Region 6/Plains District Tournament came to an end in penalty kicks on Saturday at the Johnson County Soccer Complex.

Tied with No. 19 Cowley 2-2 at the end of regulation and two 10-minute overtime period, the No. 14 Blue Dragons lost to the Tigers 4-2 in PKs.

The Region 6 runner-up Blue Dragons are 11-3-6. The Blue Dragons will now wait to see if they receive an at-large bid to the NJCAA Tournament. Those selections will be announced early next week.

Sophomores Kaitlin Edwards and Haley Rogers scored regulation goals – both goals were game-tying goals. In the PK session, Rogers and Kira Artmann scored, but the Blue Dragons were 2 of 4 on their penalty kick attempts, while Cowley was 4 of 5.

The Blue Dragons were out-shot by Cowley 19-15 in regulation and overtime. Each team had six corner kicks.

Trailing 1-0 in the first half, the relentless Blue Dragon pressure caused a Tiger turnover in the Hutchinson offensive end. Edwards intercepted a clearing attempt and immediately put a touch on the ball behind her to her left foot. Edwards then lofted a left-footed shot over Cowley keeper Marin Peoples for a game-tying goal with 19:21 to play in the first half.

Evelyn Borges gave Cowley a 2-1 lead in the 30th minute when she connected on a free kick from 19 yards out. The Tigers out-shot Hutchinson 11-6 in the first half.

The Blue Dragon defense tightened up in the second half, allowing Cowley one shot on goal. With 21:04 remaining in the second half, Cowley was called for a foul in the penalty box and the Dragons were awarded a penalty kick.

Rogers' PK attempt was saved by Peoples, but the rebound rolled right back to Rogers, who blasted a shot into an empty net for the game-tying goal, knotting the score at 2-2.

The Dragons created four corner kick attempts in overtime and Cowley had two, but neither team created any close scoring chances in extra time and the Blue Dragons headed to penalty kicks for the first time in program history.

Rogers scored in the first round and Artmann scored in the second round to tie the PK round at 2-2. The Tigers took a 3-2 lead with a third-round goal, while Peoples came up with a save. Peoples made another save in the fourth round, but Cowley launched its attempt over the goal and still led 3-2 after four rounds.

The Tigers converted on their fifth-round PK to clinch the victory.

Blue Dragon sophomore goalkeeper Karsyn Slothower had five saves and extended her career saves record to 181 career saves.

Before Saturday, the closest the Blue Dragons had come to a PK shootout came in 2007 in the District B Tournament when Laramie County scored with 38 seconds remaining in double overtime to defeat the Dragons 2-1.

The Blue Dragons are now 25-18 all-time in the Region 6 Tournament and 3-4 in the championship game round. Hutchinson is now 1-1 vs. Cowley in postseason play.