FRANKE’S THREE ASSISTS LEADS DRAGONS PAST DODGE CITY

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Sophomore Marah Franke handed out a career-high three assists as the Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team got the sour taste of Saturday's overtime loss to Coffeyville out of its collective mouth on Monday at Salthawk Sports Complex.

The Blue Dragons rallied from a goal down with five unanswered goals in a 5-1 Jayhawk Conference victory over Dodge City.

Hutchinson is now 3-2-2 (11 points) both overall and in league play. The Blue Dragons will now have nine days off before playing host to the Barton Cougars on Wednesday, April 28 at the Salthawk Sports Complex.

Franke became the first Blue Dragon since Samantha Vaughn – she had three assists on September 4, 2019 in a victory over Hesston College – to have a three-assist game. Monday was the 56th time in program history a Blue Dragon has registered three assists.

The assist was the moniker of Monday's victory.

Playing in her first game of the season, freshman goalkeeper Aspen Apfel became just the third Blue Dragon goalkeeper in team history to register an assist. Using a strong wind, Apfel's punt carried just past midfield where a Dodge City player's header deflected it onto the foot of Lani Dickinson, who juked past Dodge City keeper Ane Garcia for an uncontested goal in the 72nd minute.

Apfel is the first since Chiara Soergel, who had two assists in 2019. Eunice Figueroa is the other Hutchinson keeper with an assist, getting one each in 2011 and 2012.

Trailing 1-0 late in the first half, Vaughn knocked a clearing pass to the foot of Franke, who deftly chipped it at the goal. Vaughn then beat Garcia to her right on the ground to knot the game at 1-1 with 8:17 to play in the first half.

Going with a strong north wind in the second half, Franke delivered a corner kick short, but freshman Jordan Crone found the ball and ripped a shot home for her first collegiate goal and a 2-1 lead with 37:47 to go in the game.

Franke had a secondary assist on Hutch's third goal. She delivered a ball into the penalty box to Vaughn, who immediate slide a pass to freshman Chiara Stuenkel for a 3-1 lead with 35:01 to play.

Hutch's fourth goal came from a Aimee Maher free kick from about 22 yards out with 21:56 to go in the game.

Hutchinson out-shot Dodge City 23-9.

Apfel had three saves for Hutchinson. Dodge City's Garcia had four saves.