Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team scored 23 goals in a single game in 2016.

Over the course of 15 games last season, the 2021 Blue Dragons scored a grand total of just 28 goals.

Veteran Blue Dragon head coach Sammy Lane would like the 2022 Blue Dragons to fall somewhere in between.

"We were probably better than any team in the league in getting the ball to certain parts of the field," said Lane, who begins his 18th season as the only coach in Blue Dragon women's soccer history on Friday in Sterling, Colorado against the Western Nebraska Cougars. "We were quite lovely at knocking the ball around the field. Ultimately, you have to put the ball in certain positions for the forwards.

"If we can distribute the ball into key areas to give the forwards a good opportunity, that will be a key to us scoring more goals this season."

Eight players return from last season's 8-6-1 team that finished third in the Jayhawk West. Three of those players are third-year sophomores – Defenders Zara Lawless (5-feet-10, Dublin, Ireland) and Ella-Mae Miller (5-5, Devon, England) and midfielder Aimee Maher (5-6, Greystone Ireland).

The Blue Dragons also return their top scorer from last season in forward Hadlie Lowe (5-5, Wichita), who earned 2021 Jayhawk West Player of the Year honors. Lowe scored 18 goals and had three assists (39 points) and led the NJCAA with eight game-winning goals.

Lane would like to take of the scoring load of Lowe's shoulders. Running with Lowe up front is speedy freshman Adriana Delgado (5-7, Wichita) and freshman Jayda Wyatt (5-3, Wichita), who is just playing her way back after missing her senior high school season at Goddard Eisenhower because of injury.

"Adriana has a lot of speed, so if she can make some quality runs, maybe she starts getting marked and that would take some of the pressure off of Hadlie.

"I look for Jayda to have a big impact in the second half of the season as she continues to get more comfortable playing again."

A key to jump-starting the offense may come from a pair of all-conference midfielders who return in Maher (4 goals, 4 assists) and Julia De Sousa (5-4, Novo Hamburgo, Brazil – 1 goal, 3 assists), not only from a distribution standpoint, but also being more active in firing shots on goal.

"If we are able to get Hadlie some help, we stand a good chance of being very competitive in battling for a west title this season, said Lane, who is 233-63-9 in his first 17 seasons with the Blue Dragons. "Aimee is in her third year and Julia is in her second year. They have a better understanding of what we are trying to do."

Most of the experience and depth for the Blue Dragons falls in net and on the back line.

The Blue Dragons return a pair of goalkeepers in Olivia Felix-Cardona (5-7, Wichita) and Madison Quarles (5-8, Olathe). Felix-Cardona was 6-6-1 last season with a 1.70 goals-against average and a .753 save percentage. Quarles posted a 2-0-0 record with a 0.80 goals-against average and a .714 save percentage.

In addition to Lawless and Miller, a pair of two-year starters, Lexi Jack (5-6, Wichita) is a third starter returning. Dayza Holliman (5-7, Wichita) also saw playing time on the back line for the Dragons in 2021.

That group collectively gave up 27 goals, but posted five shutouts last season.

"We have good depth across the back," Lane said. "Every place on the field where having experience is important, we have starters back. Ella-Mae, Zara and Lexi played all the minutes on the back line, so the game should be easier for them."

The Blue Dragons will play Western Nebraska on Friday and Northeastern Junior College on Saturday. Hutchinson opens conference play on the road at Kansas City on Wednesday. The Blue Dragons open at home on Sunday, September fourth against Western Wyoming at 2 p.m. at the Salthawk Sports Complex.