Lady Tiger soccer team knocks off top-seeded Kansas City 1-0

Demonstrating the strength of the Jayhawk Conference, the fourth-seeded Cowley College women's soccer team shocked top-seed Kansas City Kansas Community College 1-0 in the semifinals of the Plains District Tournament played on Thursday in Overland Park, KS.

The Lady Tigers (11-5-2) advance to face third-seed Hutchinson Community College (11-2-6) in Saturday's championship game at 4 p.m. in Overland Park. The winner will advance to the NJCAA Division I National Championships in Wichita, KS.

Thursday's contest was close throughout with both teams taking 16 shots on goal and having opportunities to score thwarted by strong play in goal.

After a scoreless first half, the game would remain tied until Cowley's Helene Braren scored her eighth goal of the season off an assist from Evelyn Borges with 18 minutes remaining. The Lady Tigers would make the 1-0 lead hold up as sophomore goalkeeper Marin Peoples stopped all nine shots she faced.

Cowley head coach Roberto dos Santos was proud of his team's effort in the victory.

"The girls approached these last two playoff games with a tremendous mindset and stuck with the game plan," dos Santos said.

The shutout was the sixth of the season for Peoples, who has a goals against average of 1.40.

"Marin has grown so much and is doing a phenomenal job," dos Santos said.

Cowley will attempt to make it back-to-back national tournament appearances if they can defeat Hutchinson on Saturday. The Lady Tigers defeated Hutchinson 3-0 on September 25 in Arkansas City before tying the Blue Dragons 3-3 on October 26 in Hutchinson.

"Having the number three and four seeds playing in the championship speaks to the strength of our conference," dos Santos said. "We need to go into the game with the same mindset we have been playing with."