Lady Tiger soccer team trips up Butler 2-1 for fourth straight victory

Getting first half goals from Leticia Belloni and Teresa Avino, the No. 13-ranked Cowley College soccer team held on to defeat Butler Community College 2-1 Saturday in El Dorado, KS.

Cowley has won four games in a row and is now 7-1-1 overall in the Jayhawk Conference Western Division. Butler is now 3-5.

Belloni's goal came less than five minutes into Saturday's game, while Avino scored 16 minutes later to put Cowley in front 2-0. The goal by Avino was her first of the season, while Belloni has scored three times.

The Lady Tigers out-shot Butler 13-0 in the first half.

"We were able to possess the ball and attack that first half," Cowley head coach Roberto dos Santos said.

Playing against the wind in the second half, Cowley managed only three shots over the final 45 minutes.

Butler would get a goal from Natalie Amaya four minutes into the second half to pull within 2-1, but Lady Tiger goalkeeper Makayla Farquharson stopped five second half shots as Cowley held on for its fourth, one-goal victory of the season.

"I am really happy for the girls," Dos Santos said. "They started really focused and continued to control the game the majority of the contest."

Cowley will play its final regular season home game when they host Dodge City (2-6) Monday at 1 p.m. The Lady Tigers defeated the Conquistadors in overtime back on April 7.

"We need to impose our will from the get go," Dos Santos said.