Freshman Danielle Sheehy continued her torrid pace, sophomore Melissa Hetherington continued her march up the career statistical charts and the No. 3 Hutchinson Community College women’s soccer team posted a third-straight dominant shutout on Wednesday at the USD 308 Athletic Complex.
Sheehy became the first HCC women’s soccer player to score a hat trick in three consecutive games, while Hetherington moved within two points of becoming the program points leader as the Lady Dragons defeated Cloud County 7-0 in game three of HCC’s season-opening four-game homestand.
Hutchinson (3-0, 3-0 Jayhawk Conference) dominated an out-gunned Cloud County team, which had 11 healthy players going into the game. That changed late in the first half when the Thunderbirds lost a player to injury. Both teams played one person short in the second half.
After learning she was the NJCAA National Player of the Week earlier on Wednesday, Sheehy continued to excel on the HCC front line. After back-to-back four-goal games to start her career, Sheehy had three goals and two assists (eight points) to lead HCC offensively on Wednesday. In her first three games, Sheehy now has 11 goals, seven assists and 29 points in the first three games of 2012. The freshman forward took a season-low seven shots.
Hetherington had a goal and three more assists for a five-point game. She became only the second Lady Dragon to score 100 career points. Her 104-point total is just one point shy of current record-holder Caitlyn Coney (2009-10).
Hetherington’s lone goal, the 41st of her career, was also the game-winning goal. That was her ninth game winner, which tied Stephanie Franz (2009-10) for the career record in that category.
Hetherington also moved up the career assists ladder. Now with 22, eight in three games this season, Hetherington is in sixth place in that career category.
Freshman Stephany Cushing had her second-straight multi-goal game with a pair of goals. Freshman midfielder Erinn Penny scored her first career goal and sophomore Jamie Smith had an assist.
HCC out-shot Cloud County 25-1 in the match, peppering Thunderbird goalkeeper Laura Hughes with 14 shots on goal. She made seven saves.
Hutchinson sophomore goalkeeper Eunice Figueroa (2-0) had her first full shutout of the season. She had one save and she captured her 15th career victory and sixth career shutout.
The Lady Dragons missed on several good scoring chances early, but Hetherington broke the ice with her fifth goal of the season from a Sheehy assist at the 16:13 mark of the opening game. The two Dragon forwards changed places on the next two goals as Sheehy tallied season goals nine and 10 with assists from Hetherington to lead 3-0 at the 32:55 mark.
Cushing scored with about 10 minutes to go in the first half to make it 4-0. Hetherington earned her third assist of the game, the second-straight game she has had three assists.
Sheehy, Cushing and Penny scored in the second half. Penny’s was an unassisted goal.
The Lady Dragons will play host to Independence at 3 p.m. on Friday before going on the road for the first time in 2012 for a 7 p.m. Monday game at Hesston College.
GAME NOTES – HCC is now 10-0 all-time vs. Cloud County. The Lady Dragons have outscored the T-Birds 53-4. … Hetherington had her sixth career multi-assist game, which is tied for fourth.
(HCC Sports Information)
