Blue Dragons soar past Barton 2-0 behind breakthrough performances
Information obtained from HCC officials
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team delivered a thrilling performance Wednesday night, riding breakthrough moments and stellar defensive play to a crucial 2-0 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference victory over Barton at the Salthawk Soccer Complex.
Sophomore Beatrice Salas etched her name in the record books with her first career goal, while freshman Isabela Puccinelli made a triumphant return to the lineup by orchestrating both Blue Dragon scores in a pivotal conference showdown.
The victory couldn't have come at a better time for Hutchinson, which snapped a two-match winless streak to improve to 6-2-1 overall and 3-2-1 in conference play with 10 points. The Blue Dragons now set their sights on a Saturday road test against sixth-ranked Cowley in Arkansas City.
After a scoreless first half, the Blue Dragons exploded out of the break with Salas providing the breakthrough just four minutes into the second period. Puccinelli unleashed a sharp 18-yard shot that Barton goalkeeper Leonie Chambe saved, but the rebound bounced perfectly to Salas, who pounced on the opportunity and hammered home the game-winner.
The goal carried extra significance for Salas, who missed half of her 2023 freshman campaign due to injury.
Puccinelli wasn't finished making magic. With 24:54 remaining, she threaded a gorgeous pass to Poppy Smith, who coolly drew the keeper before finishing to the lower right corner for a 2-0 cushion. The goal marked Smith's seventh of the season.
Freshman goalkeeper Evie Carvell rose to the occasion when her team needed her most, matching a season high with six saves to secure her second shutout of the season and improve to 4-1-1. Her highlight-reel stop came in the 62nd minute, when she denied Ayaka Nagano's point-blank effort to preserve Hutchinson's slim 1-0 advantage.
Barton (6-5-0, 3-4-0 in conference) battled hard, out-shooting the Blue Dragons 15-12, but Chambe's seven saves weren't enough to prevent the Cougars from falling to nine conference points.
The victory marked Hutchinson's 193rd shutout in program history and improved the Blue Dragons to 22-7-5 all-time against Barton with 18 clean sheets.