Andrade’s goal lifts Lady Tigers to 2-1 win at No. 12-ranked Hutchinson
Playing its second straight ranked opponent to open the season, the No. 11-ranked Cowley College women’s soccer team got the game-winning goal from freshman Mariana Andrade with 11:10 remaining and held on to win 2-1 at No. 12-ranked Hutchinson on Wednesday.
Cowley opened the season with a 1-1 tie at No. 3-ranked Seminole State College and is now 1-0-1 overall and 1-0 in the Jayhawk Conference. The loss was the first of the season for the Blue Dragons, who are now 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
"Being on the road against a very good team, it was good to see the girls play our game and come away with the win," Cowley head coach Roberto dos Santos said.
The game, a rematch of last season's Region VI title game, was scoreless at the end of the first half.
"We had a lot of chances to score in the first half but could not finish our opportunities," dos Santos said.
The contest would remain scoreless before Cowley's Sara Cortez scored with 24 minutes remaining to give the Lady Tigers the 1-0 lead.
The Blue Dragons responded and tied the game in the 71st minute when freshman Olivia Tamaki took a feed for her second goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1 with 29:29 remaining.
Cowley would respond and take a 2-1 lead with 11:06 to play in the game when Mariana Andrade headed home a Sophie Knaab cross.
"Mariana followed the playbook and had a great finish," dos Santos said.
Cowley outshot Hutchinson 13-11 and had eight shots on goal to the Dragons' four.
Lady Tiger keeper Julia Suelly finished with three saves, while Blue Dragon goalkeeper Evie Carvell recorded six saves.
Cowley will remain on the road to face Seward County on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Saints (2-0) are coming off a 3-2 home win over Barton.
"It is a long trip to Seward, and they will be pumped coming off their win over Barton and ready to play us," dos Santos said.