by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
Heat, fatigue and once-beaten Laramie County proved too much for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s women’s soccer team Friday.
Playing their second game in 24 hours in searing Georgia heat (90 degrees), the 10th seeded Blue Devils fell 3-0 to the No. 6 seeded Golden Eagles in the second round of the NJCAA Division I national tournament in Evans, Georgia.
The game was the first in the national tournament for Laramie County, which will play Eastern Florida State Saturday with the winner advancing to the national semifinals.
KCKCC’s first time in the national tournament, the loss ended the Blue Devils’ season at 12-4-1. Meanwhile, Laramie County improved to 14-1. The shutout was the 10th for the Golden Eagles, who have given up only six goals all season and not more than one in any game.
Because of the heat and fatigue of two games in 26 hours, KCKCC coach Shawn Uhlenhake went to his bench early and often with 15 Blue Devils seeing action.
“We battled as hard as we could but with it being 90 degrees, we just didn’t have much left,” Uhlenhake said. “After yesterday (a 9-1 loss to Eastern Florida), they could have easily packed it in but they played hard. We just didn’t have enough juice.”
Ellie MacKendrick put Laramie ahead 1-0 on a perfect 20-yard kick that just barely cleared a leaping KCKCC goalkeeper Susie Lopez. The goal came on an assist from Taylor Mayrick.
The Golden Eagles then put the game out of reach with a pair of goals in the first 30 minutes of the second half. Jenaya Brown scored on an assist from Erika Scivally 15 minutes into the second half and Beyonce Robinson added the third goal on an assist by Eli Olsen 14 minutes later.
The Blue Devils were credited with 10 shots (only two the first half) and just three shots on goal. Laramie County had 16 shots, eight on goal.
“At halftime, we only had two shots and I asked the girls to get off more shots and they did (8),” Uhlenhake said. “We controlled the first 20 minutes and then they scored on their first real shot of the game. The second half we changed formations to try to score. I’d rather lose 5-0 then not try to win. We just could not get the ball in the net. And Laramie is a good team although I think if we’d have been fresh, it would have been an even game.
“There were a lot of lessons learned, especially what it takes at this level to be a Top Five team. But we competed. We have nothing to be ashamed.”