Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Sophomore Megan Maslak had career highs of four goals and nine points to lead the Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team to a dominant 2018 season-opening victory on Wednesday at the Salthawk Sports Complex.
Maslak posted Hutchinson's 35th all-time game four goals or more to lead the Blue Dragons to a 6-0 victory over Northeast Nebraska. She added an assist to complete a career-best nine-point game.
The Blue Dragons snap a three-game losing streak dating back to last season and won their third-straight season opener, the second-straight over Northeast Nebraska. Last season, Hutch won 3-0 at the Salthawk Sports Complex.
Maslak, who missed the final six games of 2017 with an injury, scored four consecutive goals after Sydney Blackwell opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Maslak scored from assists by four-different players – Kaitlyn Sabala, Moeder, Blackwell and Cameron Rodriguez.
Maslak's final two goals were two high-level efforts.
Maslak completed her first career hat trick when she reached a perfect Blackwell cross right before Northeast goalkeeper Alexis Wemhoff could defend and flicked it into the net for a 4-0 Hutch lead in the 60th minute. Maslak then out-hustled the Northeast backline when Rodriguez set a pass right down the middle of the field that Maslak chased down to again beat Wemhoff to the ball just inside the penalty box for goal No. 4 and a 5-0 lead in the 64th minute.
Blackwell had an impressive Blue Dragon debut with two goals and an assist. Moeder tacked on a pair of assists.
The Blue Dragons led 1-0 just 4:59 into the contest on Blackwell's first goal. Maslak scored her first goal in the 38th minute for a 2-0 lead, which was the halftime score. The Dragons rolled for four goals in the second half.
Hutchinson dominated possession and out-shot Northeast 26-5 and 14-2 in shots on goal.
Freshman goalkeeper Taylor Camp earned her first victory in net for Hutchinson with two saves.
While the Dragon defense wasn't tested much on Wednesday, late in the game, sophomore defender Hailey Burke had a huge hustle play that preserved the shutout. After the Hawks played a ball into the box behind the Hutch defense, Burke sprinted from the other side of the field to recover and made a perfect tackle, which resulted in a Dragon goal kick.
Hutchinson travels to Trinidad State at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Trinidad, Colorado.
GAME NOTES – The last Blue Dragon with a four-goal game was last season when Brailey Moeder accomplished the feat. … The Blue Dragons are now 11-3 all-time in season openers, winning 11 of the last 12. … This was Hutchinson's eighth opening-day shutout in team history. ... Blue Dragon head coach Sammy Lane earned all-time victory No. 194 on Wednesday.