BLUE DRAGONS SHUT OUT NEOSHO COUNTY, 3-0

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team won its third-straight match in business-like fashion on Saturday defeating the Neosho County Panthers 3-0 at the Salthawk Sports Complex.

Aimee Maher converted a penalty kick just 6:58 into the match and the Blue Dragons dominated possession time throughout, outshooting the Panthers 31-1.

The Blue Dragons improved to 5-2-2 overall and in league play. Neosho County dropped to 0-9. The Dragons travel to Garden City on Monday night.

Maher's penalty kick was a result of Esther Karhayu getting pulled down in the penalty box. Maher scored on low kick to the left corner. That was Maher's third penalty kick goal and her team-high fifth overall goal of the season.

From that point, the Blue Dragons owned possession of the ball.

The Dragons made it 2-0 in the 21st minute when Jordan Crone crossed midfield and chipped a ball into the box that Karhayu took off the short hop and drove it past Neosho keeper Paige Ellis for her third goal in two games and fourth overall goal of the season.

Going with the strong south wind in the second half, Hutchinson missed on two prime scoring chances in front of the net, but finally scored the clincher in the 85th minute when Ella-Mae Miller took a Lani Dickinson pass and hammered a shot for a goal from about 25 yards out.

Neosho County had only one true offensive threat in the game, which came in the second minute. After the Panthers' lone corner kick of the match, McKenzie Armstrong had a good look at the net from 15 yards out, but missed the shot high. That was Neosho's lone shot attempt of the game.

Hutch goalkeeper Aspen Apfel earned her first career shutout and her first career victory in net in her second start of the season.

Hutchinson is now 12-2 all-time against Neosho County, winning 12 straight against the Panthers.