Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The end of the 2017 season can simply be described as a very anti-Hutch-Soccer finish.

After start the 2017 season 13-1-1, the Blue Dragons closed out the campaign with three-straight losses, the first losing streak of that magnitude since 2005. Hutch missed on qualifying for the Region VI Tournament semifinals for the first time in program history.

Now Sammy Lane, the only head coach in Blue Dragon women's soccer history, aims to return the Blue Dragons to championship status in 2018. That march begins on Wednesday with the 2018 season opener against Northeast Nebraska at 3 p.m. at the Salthawk Sports Complex.

"Last year didn't end the way we wanted it to end," said Lane, who is seven wins shy of 200 for his Blue Dragon coaching career. "Somewhere in the middle of October (2017) we lost our way."

With five returning sophomores and 11 freshmen, Lane is high on the 2018 Blue Dragons to make a run in a greatly improved Jayhawk West this season.

"I like this group," said Lane, who is 193-47-4 in his first 13 seasons with Hutchinson. "The chemistry is good. The team speed up top is very good. If we keep competing like we are now, I expect us to contend for the conference title."

The Blue Dragons return their leading scorer from 2017 in all-conference and all-Region VI forward Brailey Moeder (Hutchinson), who had 47 points on 18 goals and 11 assists. Moeder was the only Blue Dragon last season with 10 or more goals.

Moeder is the second Hutchinson High product to lead the Blue Dragons in scoring in the last three seasons. Jordan Downing in 2016 was the other Salthawk to lead the Dragons in scoring.

"We have some unfinished business," Moeder said. "There is so much room to improve."

Hutchinson also returns forward Megan Maslak (Deal, England), who had eight goals and four assists in 12 games played. Maslak missed the final six games to injury.

Sophomore midfielder Kaitlyn Sabala (Towanda) could be a key figure in the Blue Dragon offense in 2018. Sabala had six goals and six assists as a freshman. Lane thinks Sabala could be more of an offensive force as a sophomore.

Sophomore midfielder Yadira Delgado (Goddard) and sophomore defender Hailey Burke (Topeka) are the other returning players for the Blue Dragons.

Freshman forward Ashley Venegas (Odessa, Texas) impressed in Hutchinson's three preseason victories.

Freshman Taylor Camp (Waxahachie, Texas) is a 5-foot-11 goalkeeper, one of the two tallest to play for Lane at Hutchinson. Lane hopes Camp can improve on a .771 save percentage by Hutch's keepers in 2017.

The Blue Dragons gave up only 13 goals in 2017, but seven were surrendered during the three-game losing streak to end the season.

Last season Hutchinson opened with Northeast Nebraska and defeated the Hawks 3-0. Northeast, which started women's soccer in 2016, went 12-6 last season, including 5-4 in road games.

Hutchinson travels to Trinidad State on Saturday and will return home to face North Iowa Area Community College at 2 p.m. on September 1.