The Hutchinson Community College women’s soccer team made a two-goal first half stand up for its first Jayhawk Conference victory of the season on Saturday.
The Blue Dragons battled for a 2-1 victory over Seward County on a hot afternoon at the Salthawk Soccer Complex.
Hutchinson improved to 2-3-1 overall and is now 1-0-1 (4 points) in the KJCCC. The Blue Dragons have huge week ahead. The Blue Dragons play host to No. 5 Butler at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and travel to No. 7 Cowley at 3 p.m. next Saturday. Seward County is now 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the Jayhawk.
The Blue Dragons held a large possession advantage through the first 70 minutes of the game. Seward County attempted 10 total shots, but none were on goal.
Overall, the Blue Dragons out-shot Seward County 18-10.
The offensive flow the Blue Dragons got into in the second half last Wednesday at Barton, continued early against Seward County.
Poppy Smith fed a pass to Olivia Tamaki, who maneuvered herself to a one-on-one opportunity with Seward goalkeeper Christine Kannengiesser. Tamaki burst left past the Saints’ keeper and tapped her shot into the empty goal just 3:20 into the game. Tamaki scored her third goal of the season, scoring goals in two-straight games and 3 of the last 4 games. Smith had an assist for the second-straight game.
The Blue Dragons took a 2-0 lead on a Saints’ own goal with 28:39 to play in the first half. Freshman Monturayo Ojobare made a strong run down the right sideline and turned the corner toward the goal. Ojobare’s cross caromed off a Saints’ defender and past Kannengiesser into the goal for a Hutchinson two-goal advantage.
Hutchinson led 2-0 at halftime.
Possession was a more even in the second half, but neither team created a shot on goal. The only scoring chance came when the Blue Dragons were called for a found in the penalty box, giving the Saints a penalty kick. Juliana Salazar converted the penalty kick with 18:52 remaining in the second half to cut the Blue Dragon lead to 2-1.
That was the fifth penalty kick allowed by the Blue Dragons this season.
Blue Dragon freshman goalkeeper Hanna Helshani earned her first victory in goal, improving to 1-3-1. Helshani did not record a save in the game.
Hutchinson is now 6-0-1 all-time against Seward County.
