Lady Tiger soccer team has season end abruptly

The No. 16-ranked Cowley College women's soccer team, the top-seeded team in the Jayhawk West, more than doubled the amount of shots taken than its opponent Butler Community College, the fourth seed in the East, in the first round of the Midwest District Soccer Playoffs held Wednesday at Jantz Stadium in Winfield, KS. However, Butler made the most of its opportunities as they scored a pair of second half goals to knock off the Lady Tigers 2-1.

With the win, Butler (6-9) advance to play at the NJCAA Plains District Soccer Tournament May 22-23 at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, KS. Cowley finishes another strong season with a record of 10-3-1.

Butler was an unfortunate draw for the top-seeded Lady Tigers as the Lady Grizzlies were much better than their record would indicate. Coming into Wednesday's game, Butler had lost four, one-goal games and no game by more than two goals.

"Our season was cut short by one bad result at the wrong time," Cowley head coach Roberto dos Santos said. "However, it's impossible to forget the resilience, commitment and dedication these Lady Tigers displayed throughout this season, one of the most intense and difficult in my experience."

Having controlled play for the majority of the first half, Cowley finally broke through when Leticia Beloni drilled a shot from 25 yards out into the top right corner of the goal to give the lady Tigers a 1-0 lead with 19:33 left before halftime. The goal, Beloni's fifth of the season, was assisted by Natalia Lima.

Trailing 1-0 at the end of the first half, Butler needed only five minutes into the second half to tie the game at 1-1. The Lady Grizzlies tied the contest on a goal by Natalie Amaya.

The game would remain tied until Butler's Rachel Wolecki headed in a well-executed corner kick from Ellie McDonald to give the Lady Grizzlies a 2-1 lead with 11:36 left to play. Butler would make the lead stand up.

Cowley's sophomores captured back-to-back conference titles and went 24-7-1 in their two seasons at the school.

"They once again made history in the program and Cowley athletics," Dos Santos said. "I am proud of them. This team set the bar even higher for the next generation to come to represent Cowley College."

The winner of the NJCAA Plains District Soccer Tournament will advance to play in the NJCAA Soccer Championships June 3-8 in Evans, GA.