Lady Tigers suffer second straight 4-3 defeat

As was the case in its last game at Dodge City on Sunday, the No. 14-ranked Cowley College women's soccer team held a 3-2 second-half advantage before watching No. 8-ranked Butler Community College rally for the 4-3 win Wednesday night in Arkansas City.

After opening the season with a pair of wins, the Lady Tigers are now 2-2 overall and 2-2 in the Jayhawk Conference. Butler (4-0-2) improves to 4-0-1 in conference play.

On Wednesday, things started well for the Lady Tigers as freshman Helene Braren blasted in a shot from about 35 yards out to give Cowley a 1-0 lead only 1:56 into the contest. Cowley would add to its lead when sophomore Hina Suzuki scored her sixth goal of the season with 27:54 left in the opening half.

However, Butler's London Ingram would answer with her fifth and sixth goals of the season to send the game to halftime deadlocked at 2-2.

Ana Hernandez's second goal of the season, on a beautiful free kick from just outside the box, helped put Cowley back in front 3-2 with 26:23 left to play.

With injuries continuing to mount for Cowley, the Lady Tigers played portions of the second half without its top three defenders. Butler took advantage by tying the game on a goal by Alayna Runck with 15 minutes remaining.

Moments after Cowley goalkeeper Marin Peoples made a diving save of a penalty kick, Butler was able to grab the lead when Ingram finished off the hat-trick by heading in the go-ahead goal with 10:08 showing on the clock.

The Lady Tigers were unable to answer in the final 10 minutes, and Butler held on for the 4-3 road win.

"The girls came out strong, but we are having problems with injuries, and that was a big factor in the game," Cowley head coach Roberto dos Santos said. "We were not able to play the way we wanted after losing some of our key players."

In the midst of a three-game homestand, Cowley will host Coffeyville (0-4) on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Red Ravens are in search of their first win of the season.

"It will be a very important game," dos Santos said. "We will need to recover and get ready to play with a new lineup. The girls will need to step up."