PUCCINELLI NOTCHES HISTORIC BLUE DRAGON HAT TRICK VS. GC

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Isabela Puccinelli's first career hat trick turned out to be an historical feat for the Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team on Wednesday night.

Puccinelli scored three goals in a key 5-0 Jayhawk Conference victory over Garden City at the Salthawk Soccer Complex.

The No. 19-ranked Blue Dragons (11-2-3) extended their unbeaten streak to eight games (6 wins, 2 ties) and strengthened their hold on second place in the Jayhawk Conference at 8-2-3 (27 points). Hutchinson can clinch second place in the KJCCC with a win or tie against Barton on Saturday. That game will be at 1 p.m. at Cavanaugh Field in Great Bend and it will be the final regular-season game.

Puccinelli's made Blue Dragon history by recording the 100th all-time hat trick in the 21-year history of Blue Dragons women's soccer. She is the 48th different Blue Dragon player to have a hat trick.

Puccinelli finished with a career-high eight-point night with three goals and two assists against the Broncbusters.

The Blue Dragon freshman is the first player to record a hat trick since Haley Rogers on August 24, 2024 against Garden City. Puccinelli is the first Blue Dragon to score eight or more points in a game since Adriana Delgado had nine points against Crowder College on September 2, 2023. Puccinelli is the first Blue Dragon freshman to record a hat trick since Hadlie Lowe on October 13, 2021.

The Blue Dragons dominated play from the outset on Wednesday night with four first-half goals. Hutchinson outshot Garden City 20-2, including 12-0 in shots on goal. This was the third time this season and 33rd time in program history the Blue Dragons didn't allow a shot on goal.

Freshman Olivia Tamaki also had a multi-point night with a goal and two assists. Freshman Poppy Smith also scored her 10th goal of the season.

The Blue Dragons split goalkeeping duties. Evie Carvell (8-2-3) played the first half and Rylee Loague played in the final 45 minutes. Carvell and Loague combined for Hutchinson's eighth shutout of the season and 197th in program history.

Hutchinson took a 1-0 lead at the 8:50 mark of the first half when Puccinelli ripped a shot from the from an acute angle on the left side from 12 feet out. Tamaki earned her first assist of the game on the goal.

Smith made it 2-0 with 24:06 to play in the half, Smith scored off the dribble when she drove a shot just under the crossbar from 22 yards out.

Puccinelli scored her second of the game with 5:25 remaining in the half, working inside after taking a Tamaki pass and blistered a shot from 12 yards out for a 3-0 lead. Less than 2 minutes later, Tamaki took a pass from Puccinelli and laced a shot to the lower left corner of the goal for a 4-0 Hutchinson lead with 3:50 to go.

Puccinelli completed the hat trick when she scored with 29:24 to play in the second half.

The Blue Dragons are now 34-1-1 all-time against Garden City and had their 25th all-time shutout against the Broncbusters.