by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s women’s soccer season comes down to a dramatic showdown against Coffeyville Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
On the line: Holding KCKCC’s first ever NJCAA DII Region VI playoff game and a possible first place tie in the Jayhawk Conference race.
In second place in the Jayhawk after a 5-2 win at Allen County Wednesday, a win over Coffeyville would not only clinch a home playoff berth but it would put the Blue Devils (8-3) in position to tie Cowley College for the conference championship should Cowley (9-2) lose at Butler next Tuesday.
Conversely, a loss and two Butler (6-3-1) wins would drop KCKCC to third place and force a playoff opener on the road.
In Coffeyville, the Blue Devils will be facing one of the most dangerous teams in the conference. The Red Ravens (6-5) dealt the Blue Devils one of their three losses 5-3 at Coffeyville Sept. 25 and are coming off a 2-1 upset of Cowley last Saturday.
Meanwhile, KCKCC had to pull away in the second half for the 5-2 win over winless Allen County (0-10) Wednesday. Sophomore Kayla Deaver led the way with a three-goal “hat trick” and a pivotal assist.
KCKCC led 1-0 at halftime on a Tina Alvarez pass to Deaver, who scored from the top of the box.
Deaver scored again early in the second half on an assist from Maddy Broeker only to have Allen County pull even on the second of two goals by Dorothy Usher.
“Allen capitalized on two mistakes for the tie; it never should have happened,” KCKCC assistant coach Sara Matthews said.
Freshman Jaidyn Yingling put KCKCC back in front to stay with an assist from Deaver.
“Kayla Deaver put a ball in behind the defenders and in front of the keeper and Jaidyn took a great touch around the keeper to score,” Matthews said.
Deaver’s third goal came on an assist from Kayley Pederson.
“Kayley put a ball to the top left of the field and Kayla did her magic, chipping the ball around several defenders and then to the inside of the goalkeeper,” Matthews said.
Freshman Corrine Hughes wrapped up the win, scoring on a pass from Jaidyn Yingling.
In running their overall record to 11-3, the Blue Devils peppered the Allen goal with 16 shots with goalkeeper Phoenix Michaelis turning away 11. Meanwhile, the Red Devils managed only three shots on goal against KCKCC goalkeeper Jaidyn Takaishi.
“Overall, a win is a win but give credit to Allen County,” Matthews said. “They did not make it easy for the entire 90 minutes. We did what we do best which is to score goals, a lot of them. But we made critical and honestly, silly mistakes on the defensive end that Allen capitalized on. That just can’t happen. We have to tighten up heading into the playoffs.”
The Blue Devils played without sophomore centerback and team captain Sydney Guerra, held out as a precautionary measure.
“Having her back Sunday will help,” Matthews said.