Jay Daubenberger
After spending most of the past week in Kansas City for a two-game road trip, the Seward County Lady Saints women’s soccer team returned to Liberal, Kansas to take on #13 Hutchinson on Redskin Field where SCCC was unable to upset the Blue Dragons who were able to finish off the Lady Saints 3-1.
Hutchinson blanked Seward County in their previous matchup and once again took the win over SCCC, but not before the Lady Saints were able to score a goal of their own against their nationally ranked opponent. The Blue Dragons made the first move of the afternoon as they quickly ran down the field and scored early within the first ten minutes to go up 1-0. Another goal from Hutchinson at the 11:50 mark put Seward County in a 2-0 deficit to the Blue Dragons entering halftime, with signs pointing to a repeat of their first matchup.
The second half started with a quicker score than the first for Hutchinson as they increased their lead to 3-0 with in the first minute of action. From there the Lady Saints put all their effort into holding the line to prevent a repeat from their first encounter. Sydney Williams came up big down the stretch with multiple saves to hold the Blue Dragons at bay. As time ran down to the final minutes of action and the Lady Saints gained a rare opportunity where a group of SCCC players drove down the field and created some offensive momentum of their own. A foul by Hutchinson allowed Dayra Dinarte to attempt a free kick where she was able to shoot it right into the top of goal over the outstretched hands of the opposing goalie to give the Lady Saints their first goal of the game to end the contest 3-1 in a loss to the Blue Dragons.
Seward County now falls to 1-8-2 on their inaugural season with a conference record of 1-8-1 in KJCCC action. They will look to regroup quickly as they take on the nationally ranked Cowley Tigers on the road in a 5:30 PM matchup on Wednesday.