DRAGONS TO MEET BUTLER FOR 8TH TIME IN POSTSEASON

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

For the second-straight season, the Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team will meet the Butler Grizzlies in the Region VI Tournament.

In the total scheme of Jayhawk Conference women's soccer history, that's really nothing new since the inception of the Blue Dragon program in 2005.

Saturday's Noon Region VI Tournament semifinal kickoff at the Stryker Sports Complex will be the eighth postseason meeting between the Blue Dragons (7-3-3) and Grizzlies (6-8).

Butler holds a 4-3 postseason advantage over the Blue Dragons after a 3-2 opening-round win over Hutchinson last season at the Salthawk Sports Complex. The last Blue Dragon Region VI win over Butler came in the 2011 Region VI championship match, a 1-0 victory.

The Blue Dragons advanced to the Region VI semifinals for the first time since 2016 with a 3-1 win on Tuesday at Coffeyville. Esther Karhayu scored a pair of goals and scored a goal in a fourth consecutive game to lead Hutchinson.

The Grizzlies advanced with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at Cowley on Wednesday.

Hutchinson won the only meeting with Butler this season. Samantha Vaughn scored a pair of goals in a 4-2 win over Butler on April 10 at the Salthawk Sports Complex. Hutchinson jumped out to a 3-0 lead at halftime on goals by Vaughn, Lani Dickinson and Karhayu. Butler countered with two quick goals by Rachel Wolecki and Ellie McDonald early in the second half, but Vaughn scored her second of the game in the 70th minute to give the Dragons some needed insurance.

Saturday's semifinal matchup will be the 21st all-time meeting between Hutchinson and Butler. The series is tied 10-10.

The Blue Dragon will make their 13th appearance in the Region VI semifinals. Hutchinson is 6-6 in the semifinal round, losing the last two semifinal matchups it has played in. The last Region VI semifinal win for the Blue Dragons was a 1-0 win over Barton in 2014.