by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s No. 19 ranked Lady Blue Devils tightened their hold on a share of first place in the Jayhawk Conference with a 7-0 blanking of Allen County Saturday.
The fifth win in a row for the Blue Devils (7-1) sets up the toughest road schedule of the season – at Coffeyville Wednesday at 5 p.m. and at No. 6 Butler County Saturday at 7 p.m.
KCKCC and Cowley share the Jayhawk lead at 4-1 followed by Butler (3-1-1), the only team to defeat the Blue Devils this season.
“The toughest week of the season, for sure,” KCKCC coach Shawn Uhlenhake said. “We’re playing good teams on the road and then add all the travel. And it’s still early. The second round of play is going to be real difficult. We’re going to be facing big challenges.”
The Blue Devils were led by freshmen Corrine Hughes, who had a “hat trick” with three goals; and Melissa Siegel, who had two goals and two assists including a blistering free kick from 25 yards out.
Sophomore Tina Alvarez and freshman Madison Broeker added the other goals. KCKCC led only 2-0 at the half.
Siegel scored what would be the only goal the Blue Devils would need with a shot from outside the box just three minutes into the game and Hughes made it 2-0 late in the half on a header assisted by Kayley Pedersen.
Hughes’s second and third goals opened the second half and put the game out of reach. The goals came on assists from Pedersen and Alvarez.
Broeker’s goal came on a rebound on a shot by Siegel and Alvarez beat goalkeeper Phoenix Michaelis on a deflection of a corner kick from Siegel.
KCKCC’s lone international student from Endingen, Germany, then finished the win when she rocketed a free kick home from 25 yards out.
“That was unstoppable,” Uhlenhake said.
“The goal of the game,” agreed assistant coach Sara Matthews. “The inside post might still be ringing from how hard she hit that shot.”
The Blue Devils finished with 23 shots including 19 on goal.
“Allen’s keeper was good with good hands,” Matthews said. “Her saves saved a lot of goals (12).”
“We came out slow and were not connecting,” Uhlenhake said. “The defense was not connecting with the midfielders and the midfielders were not connecting with the forwards. We led 2-0 but it was kind of sloppy. But the second half we startedconnecting and returned to being a dangerous team. Melissa was unstoppable and Corrine Hughes has a rare talent of finding ways to score goals. Defensively, we were organized and didn’t give up a goal but had trouble connecting.”
“We really didn’t turn on the fire until second half,” Matthews said. “Going into the second half we’re going to need read to pounce from the first whistle. But we’re learning from every game and getting a number of players good field time and experience with good results.”