CLOUD COUNTY DOWNS DRAGONS FOR WEST TITLE

HutchCC Sports Information

CONCORDIA – For the second-straight day, the Cloud County Thunderbirds stung the Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team late and ultimately ended the Blue Dragons' chances at a repeat Jayhawk West title.

Cloud County scored on a rebound of a missed penalty kick with 1 minute, 45 seconds remaining in regulation to defeat the Blue Dragons 2-1 on Monday at the Cloud County Soccer Field.

Paired with Sunday's 3-2 double-overtime victory over the Blue Dragons at the Salthawk Sports Complex, the Thunderbirds claimed the 2017 Jayhawk West championship and the top seed out of the Jayhawk West for the Region VI Tournament, which begins on Saturday.

The Blue Dragons, who fall to 13-3-1 overall, 8-3-1 in the Jayhawk West and 10-3-1 in the region, did get some good news on Monday after Barton defeated Northwest Tech 2-0 on Monday in Goodland. The Blue Dragons finish second in the league and region and will be a host team for a Region VI Tournament opening round game on Saturday.

Tied 1-1 with less than 2 minutes remaining, the Thunderbirds played a ball in front of the Hutchinson goal and the Blue Dragons were called for a foul, giving Cloud County penalty kick. Blue Dragon sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Main made the save on Ingrid Castro's penalty kick, but couldn't control the rebound and Castro put the rebound in past her for the go-ahead goal and a 2-1 lead.

After playing to a scoreless tie in the first half – Hutch mustered only one shot going against a strong north wind in the first half – the Blue Dragons scored the first goal of the match.

Kaitlyn Sabala played a through ball to Brailey Moeder, who fired a low shot past Cloud County keeper Alanya Hannigan for a 1-0 lead with 41:38 to play in the second half.

Cloud County got the game-tying goal about nine minutes later. The Dragons were whistled for a foul just outside the box to the left. Castro fired a direct free kick across the goal and into the upper right corner to knot the game at 1-1 with 32:57 to play.

The Blue Dragons, for the second-straight game was outshot 9-6.

Main (6-2-1) made three saves in the contest. Cloud County back-up keeper Janne Hamisi came in the game in the second half to earn the victory.

Official pairings for the Region VI Tournament will be released later this week.