SMITH GOAL WITH 12.2 SECONDS REMAINING LEADS DRAGONS TO TOP 15 WIN

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Looking destined to end in a draw, the outcome of the 2025 season opener for the No. 15-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's soccer took a sudden and thrilling turn on Monday night at Don Michael Field.

The Blue Dragons nearly flipped the entire field in 13 seconds and freshman forward Poppy Smith smashed a go-ahead goal with 12.2 seconds remaining to lift Hutchinson to its first-ever win over a ranked opponent in a season opener.

No. 15 Hutchinson defeated No. 12 Trinity Valley 2-1 for its fifth-straight season-opening victory.

Smith scored both goals for the Blue Dragons, becoming the 13th Blue Dragon to have multiple goals in a season opener. Olivia Tamaki and Anastasia Pokrandt were credited with assists.

Tied at 1-1 in the final minute of regulation, Trinity Valley was called for a foul deep in the Blue Dragon defensive end. With 25 seconds remaining, Pokrandt's free kick originated just 15 yards from the Hutchinson goal line. A Trinity Valley defender went up to head the Pokrandt kick just shy of midfield, but the ball skimmed of her and continued to go forward directly to the right foot of Smith, who went one on one with a Cardinal defender toward the goal. From 20 yards out, Smith unleashed a powerful low right-footed shot that got by diving TVCC goalkeeper Nikia van Middendorp for a 2-1 Hutchinson lead with 12.2 seconds remaining in the second half.

The Blue Dragons covered 105 yards in 12.8 seconds for the game-winning goal.

The game-winning goal at 89:48 of regulation time is the latest game-winning goal in Blue Dragon history. The previous latest goal came from Megan Reffett, who scored at the 87:01 mark for a 2-1 victory over Dodge City in 2006. This was the seventh game-winning goal scored in the final 5 minutes of a game in Blue Dragon history.

The Blue Dragons scored the first goal of the season in the 25th minute off a corner kick. Tamaki dropped the corner right in front of the goal and through a lot of traffic, Smith nailed a shot into the lower right corner for a 1-0 Dragon lead with 21:27 to play in the first half.

The Cardinals tied the game in the 75th minute, taking advantage of a misplayed clearing attempt by the Blue Dragons. Hadlee Farrow intercepted the clearing attempt and lobbed a shot from 40 yards out that got over the head of Blue Dragon keeper Evie Carvell for the game-tying goal with 25:07 to go in the second half, knotting the game at 1-1.

Carvell (1-0) finished with three saves in earning her first win in net for the Blue Dragons. Van Middendorp had eight saves for Trinity Valley.

The Blue Dragons out-shot Trinity Valley 10-4 in shots on goal and 20-7 overall.

The Blue Dragons will play Western Wyoming at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Don Michael Field. Trinity Valley will play Barton at 10 a.m. Wednesday, also at Don Michael Field.

GAME NOTES …
+ The Blue Dragons are now 17-4 all-time in season openers.

+ Hutchinson is now 2-2 against teams from the state of Texas in program history.

+ The Dragons are now 1-1 against nationally ranked teams in a season opener. Hutchinson lost to No. 17 Iowa Central 1-0 on August 29, 2015. The game was played at Don Michael Field.

+ Poppy Smith's multi-goal game in a season opener is the fourth-straight opener a Blue Dragon had a multi-goal game in an opener. Smith joins Katharina Marx (2 goals in 2024 vs. NOC-Enid), Kaitlyn Edwards (2 goals in 2023 against Northeastern JC) and Hadlie Lowe (3 goals in 2022 vs. Western Nebraska).