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By Bret Mitchell
HCC Sports Information
Sunday, October 28, 2007
TOPEKA – The Hutchinson Community College
women’s soccer team continued its meteoric rise in junior college soccer by
capturing its first regional championship on Sunday in only the program’s
third year of existence.
The Lady Dragons won the 2007 Region VI
championship, defeating perennial power and eighth-ranked Johnson County 2-1
at the Hummer Sports Complex.
“When I took the job here my goal was to win
the conference championship,” head coach Sammy Lane said. “It is an
unbelievable accomplishment.”
“We left it all out on the field,” said
sophomore forward Jenny Yukich, who scored the game-winning goal with 20
minutes left to play in the game. “We had more heart this year than the
other years.”
Hutchinson (13-5) will now advance to the
NJCAA District Tournament in Coeur D Alene on Nov. 2-3. HCC will play Region
VI champion Laramie County (15-3-1).
Sixth-seeded Hutchinson advanced to its
second-straight regional championship game by knocking off third-seeded
Coffeyville (2-0) and second-seeded Butler (2-1) to get a finals rematch
with top-seeded Johnson County (18-3-1), the only team that HCC hasn’t
beaten over the past three years.
The Lady Dragons lost 2-1 to the Cavaliers in
the regular season and lost 3-0 in last year’s Region VI championship match.
“It gave us a little bit of confidence that
we were close last time,” sophomore Kayla Delzer said
Hutchinson gained some confidence in this
game when Delzer scored the first goal on a great individual effort in the
30th minute.
Johnson County fought back and tied the game
in the 56th minute when Courtney Cowan scored on the assist from Kaylee
Harkens.
“I thought we were done then,” Lane said.
HCC took the lead for good in the 70th minute
when sophomore Johanna Adolfs delivered her second perfect direct kick of
the contest, with Yukich converting.
“Johanna’s two deliveries were perfect,” said
Lane, of Adolfs’ two perfect free kicks in the second half. “That was a
heck of a goal to win a region title.”
“It was a great ball on the blocks, it was
perfect,” Yukich said.
The connection to win the title was a fitting
one, as it was HCC’s all time leader in assists, Adolfs, finding the
all-time leader in goals scored, Yukick.
Sophomore Carly McArthur also became the
program’s all-time leader in wins as a goalkeeper, with 18. She finished
with nine saves, several coming in a Johnson County barrage after the
Cavaliers scored the tying goal.
GAME NOTES – Hutchinson was very
efficient in the game, scoring on the only two shots they got on goal all
day. The two shots on goal were a season low … The Lady Dragons defense was
solid all tournament, allowing only two goals in the three games combined. …
Megan Sykes left due to an apparent injury with six minutes to play in the
first half, but returned to play significant time in the second half.
<HCC VS. JOHNSON COUNTY PHOTO GALLERY>
OTHER QUOTES
Head Coach Sammy Lane
On his players’ level of play …
“Every single one of the players were
phenomenal. To win as the sixth seed is not bad.”
On the team focusing on defense …
“We just wanted to sit back and defend when
we got the lead. Jenny Yukich worked incredibly hard up front.”
Sophomore Midfielder Kayla Delzer
On how people will react to this win …
“People will probably look at the score and
say ‘what did Johnson do wrong.’ We know we earned it.”
Sophomore Forward Jenny Yukich
On coach Lane …
“Sammy is very smart. He knows what he is
talking about.”
Sophomore Midfielder Johanna Adolfs
On winning despite the odds …
“We were on the bottom, last team to make it,
and we came out on top. This is the most exciting feeling in my life.”
On how the team won…
“We had the talent, but we definitely had
more determination.”
HUTCHINSON
2, JOHNSON COUNTY 1
Hutchinson 1 1 -2
Johnson County 0
1 -1
First
Half Scoring
HCC –
Kayla Delzer (unassisted) 30th minute.
Second Half Scoring
J C–
Courtney Cowan (Kaylee Harkens) 56th minute.
HCC –
Jenny Yukich (Johanna Adolfs) 70th minute.
Goalkeepers (Saves) – HCC: Carly McArthur (9); JC: Megan Brown (0).
Shots On
Goal - HCC: 2; JC: 10.
Corner
Kicks - HCC: 2; JC: 5.
Fouls -
HCC: 7; JC: 5.
Yellow
cards – none
Red
cards - none |
