by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s women’s soccer team took on a blustery Kansas wind and No. 11 ranked Cowley College and defeated them both Friday night.
Scoring two early goals with the wind at their back, the Blue Devils turned back numerous Cowley second half advances for a well-earned 2-1 win. It was the opener for the Blue Devils, who play at Neosho County Monday before opening at home against No. 16 Butler County Wednesday at 6 p.m.
“We were lucky we were able get a couple of quick goals with the wind,” KCKCC coach Shaun Uhlenhake said. “The wind was blowing so hard. It dictated everything. We had a few opportunities the second half but they had us on our heels. We just did a good job of defending well,”
Good buddies Madison Broeker and Corrine Hughes teamed up to put KCKCC in front 1-0 just six minutes into the contest, Broeker taking a pass from Hughes 14 yards in front of the net and booting the ball into the far corner. Hughes got the second goal, scoring from 20 yards out in front on a well-placed pass from Katharina Oelschlager.
Cowley scored its lone goal in the second half.
“Everyone we had was playing defense because the majority of the game was played on one half of the field,” said Uhlenhake, who was ecstatic with the play of his new goalie, freshman Suzie Lopez of Turner, who had six saves, five in the second half. “Pretty good debut for someone who came to us as a forward and suddenly became our goalkeeper.”
Veterans Katrina Sargent, Jaidyn Yingling and Paige Liston spearheaded the Blue Devil defense along with midfielder Kayley Pedersen. A couple of freshmen, midfielder Kaylee Shaw of Leavenworth and centerback Grace Runyan of Blue Valley, also drew accolades for their first college games.
“Great way to start, especially against a ranked team,” Uhlenhake said.