Van Fleet's goal lifts no. 19 Hutchinson past Butler, into Region 6 final
Information obtained from HCC officials
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Freshman Isabell Van Fleet scored in the 28th minute and No. 19 Hutchinson Community College made it stand up, defeating Butler 1-0 in a Region 6 Tournament semifinal Nov.5 at Salthawk Soccer Complex.
The second-seeded Blue Dragons (13-2-4) advanced to the Region 6 championship game for the second consecutive season and will face top-seeded and seventh-ranked Cowley at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at KCK Soccer Complex in Kansas City, Kansas. It will be Hutchinson's eighth Region 6 championship game appearance.
The decisive goal came after freshman Olivia Tamaki delivered a long pass that found Van Fleet in stride. Van Fleet dribbled about 20 yards before drawing out Butler goalkeeper Millie Robshaw-Charlesworth and firing a low shot into an open goal with 27:28 left in the first half.
The goal was Van Fleet's eighth of the season and first in eight games. Tamaki recorded her team-high 13th assist.
Butler controlled possession in the second half but couldn't break through. The Grizzlies' best chance came with 70 seconds remaining when Amiya Hamilton-Thompson drove into the penalty box, got past goalkeeper Evie Carvell and hit the right post. The rebound fell to London Ingram, but Blue Dragon midfielder Beatrice Sales challenged her and forced a shot wide left.
Carvell finished with three saves to improve to 10-2-4. Robshaw-Charlesworth made eight saves for third-seeded Butler.
Hutchinson outshot Butler 16-9 and improved to 4-1 in 1-0 games this season. The Blue Dragons are now 6-7 all-time against Butler in Region 6 Tournament play, including consecutive victories over the Grizzlies.