Hutchinson CC Sports Information
EL DORADO – Playing against the No. 1-ranked team in the NJCAA national ranking for the first time in program history, the Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team rallied from two goals down in the final 10 minutes to earn a key Jayhawk Conference points on Saturday night.
Sophomores Bessie Simpson and Poppy Smith scored goals just 3 minutes, 3 seconds apart to tie the game and the Blue Dragons held on to stun the top-ranked Butler Grizzlies with a 2-2 draw at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.
The Blue Dragons (7-5-2 overall) stay right in the hunt for at least an opening-round Region 6 Tournament game with a 6-2-2 (17 points). The Dragons play host to No. 6 Cowley at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Salthawk Soccer Complex.
Before playing the top-ranked Grizzlies on Saturday, the highest-ranked opponent the Dragons face was No. 4 Johnson County in 2013.
The Blue Dragons were turned away on a tremendous scoring chance just 2 minutes into the game, but Isabell Van Fleet's shot was turned away by Butler keeper Estelle Olive.
The Grizzlies countered and scored 3:59 into the game when Genevieve LaMarche connected from point-blank range. Butler then took a 2-0 lead on a Milan Hunter goal with 26:15 to play in the first half.
The Blue Dragons weren't able to muster much offense through the first 80 minutes, but got a big spark when Simpson found herself one-on-one with Olive and beat her to Simpson's right for her first goal of the season. The Dragons cut the Butler lead to 2-1 with 9:24 to play in regulation time. Zemyna Lekacviciute was credited with the assists.
Just three minutes later, Montunrayo Ojobare sent a pass into the box to Smith, who scored her sixth of the season to knot the score at 2-2 with 6:21 remaining in the second half.
From that point, the Blue Dragon defense was solid with Hanna Halshani making one save with 56 seconds remaining to preserve the tie.
Helshani (6-4-1) had eight saves in the game.
The Blue Dragons are now 0-2-2 this season when trailing at halftime. Both ties have come after the Dragons trailed 2-0.
Simpson scored her third career goal and Smith had her 16th career goal on Saturday.
The Blue Dragons were outshot 18-10 by the Grizzlies.