Raymond Hoare
Student Sports Media
As the regular season is coming to an end, Butler women’s soccer was at BG Product Veterans Sports Complex to face off against Kansas City Kansas Community College on Thursday, Oct. 18.
Butler was on the attacking half of the field for a majority of the first half.
In the 23rd minute, freshman forward Elise Leidersten passed the ball to freshman midfielder Tessa Irvine as she ran for the ball and got a touch, the KCK keeper charged right at Irvine. She get off a low kick and as the ball bounced off of the keeper, it hit in the net giving Butler the first goal of the day.
Butler kept pushing up the field, but the KCK keeper stopped potential goals for Butler as she blocked three goals in the first half.
This gave KCK a chance to respond in the 39th minute from a corner kick. Karleigh Enyart kicked in for the goal, as KCK tied Butler 1-1.
In the second half, Butler stepped it up as sophomore forward Paige Achey, netted in a hat trick in a span of eight minutes, in the 46th, 51st, and 52nd minute, making it the fastest hat trick for her this season. But it was not over as Leidersten scored the last and final goal of the home game assisted by Achey. That set Butler up for the victory, 5-1, and clinched the Jayhawk East title.
“A good response from our attacking players…we definitely improved from the first half for sure,” Head Coach Adam Hunter said. “Congratulations to our kids. Every season is a journey.”
For the final game of the regular season, Butler traveled to take on Allen County on Saturday, Oct. 20, as Butler looked to finish the season out strong. They went all out as they finish the day shutting out Allen County, 6-0, goals from sophomore midfielder Melonie Baca, freshman defender Abby Edson, Achey and Leidersten with 3 goals.
Leidersten scored the final hat trick of the regular season as she ended the season with 19 goals in total.
Announced on Wednesday, Oct. 24, Leidersten was awarded National Player of the Week by the NJCAA, following her four goal, three assist last two games.
While the regular season is over, there is more to come for Butler. After earning the No. 1 seed in the Region IV Tournament, Butler hosts the Dodge City Conquistadors on Thursday, Oct. 25, in which this is a win or go home situation for both teams. If Butler wins, they will be at home once again on Saturday, Oct. 27 to host the winner of the matchup between Cloud County and Coffeyville.