Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team was held to a season-low shot total as Cloud County frustrated the Blue Dragons at nearly every turn in a key Jayhawk West contest on Wednesday at the Salthawk Sports Complex.
After battling to scoreless draw in the first half, Cloud County scored one minute into the second half and handed Hutchinson its first loss of the season with a 2-0 win.
The Blue Dragons fall to 7-1-1 overall and 5-1-1 in the Jayhawk West. Cloud County is now 8-1 overall and 6-1 in conference play. With Barton's win over Northwest Tech on Wednesday, the Cougars are alone in first place in the conference with 21 points. Cloud County is second with 18 points and the Blue Dragons are third with 16 points.
Cloud County won its third-straight game over the Blue Dragons, but Hutchinson maintains a 12-3 all-time series lead over Cloud County.
After a defensive stalemate through the first 20 minutes – neither team sent a shot on goal – the Thunderbirds started to dictate play. Blue Dragon keeper Taylor Camp had to make three first-half saves, but the Blue Dragons were never in any danger of giving up a goal in the first half. The Blue Dragon defensive group of Hailey Burke, Angela Rader, Bailey Flowers and Jenna Boese was efficient at clearing the ball and keeping the T-Birds from mounting a serious threat.
The only shot the Blue Dragons had in the opening half was a Burke free kick.
One minute into the second half, Gabriela de Jesus broke to the right of Camp and from a sharp angle guided a left-footed shot into the upper right corner of the goal for the game's first tally with 44 minutes to play.
The Thunderbirds got an insurance goal 13 minutes later and Izabella Christina took a long pass and from outside the box lobbed a shot over Camp into the goal for a 2-0 lead with 30:50 to play.
Camp (6-1-1) finished with a season-high seven saves for the Blue Dragons.
Hutchinson plays host to Northwest Tech at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Salthawk Sports Complex.