Suzuki lifts Lady Tigers to 2-0 season-opening win at Garden City

After a scoreless first half in its season-opener at Garden City on Sunday, the No. 10-ranked Cowley College women's soccer team got a pair of goals from sophomore Hina Suzuki in a 34-second span of the second half to slip past the Lady Broncbusters 2-0.

"We came out flat in the first half but had a good talk at halftime and were a totally different team in the second half," Cowley head coach Roberto dos Santos said. "We started contesting every ball and created more scoring opportunities in the second half."

Suzuki broke the scoreless tie as she scored off an assist from Evelyn Borges with 23:17 remaining in the game. Only 34 seconds later, Suzuki would net her second goal as Cowley went on to the 2-0 road win.

"It was great to see Hina start the season like that," dos Santos said. "She was very aggressive and did a good job of finishing."

Sophomore goalkeeper Marin Peoples stopped all four shots she faced while handing Garden City (2-2) its first shutout of the season.

"Marin was not challenged much, but the shots she saved were vital to the win," dos Santos said.

Cowley is now 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Lady Tigers will face Seward County (1-1-2) on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the team's home opener.

"Every team in the conference is getting better, so we will need to be prepared for Wednesday's game," dos Santos said.