Raymond Hoare & Emmie Boese
Student Sports Media & Lantern Staff
Given the soccer team’s record, the women’s soccer defense has been phenomenal as the last five games have been shutouts, beating Allen County, 6-0. In the Region IV tourney, Butler beat the Dodge City Conquistadors 4-0. Next, was a tough match up against Cloud County T-Birds as this team beat Butler least season in the Region IV semi-final matchup. Sophomore forward Paige Achey stepped up, getting in the two goals in the late second half giving the Grizzlies a 2-0 victory over the T-Birds. A Region XI victory landed them in the District Plains Tournament in Cleburne, Texas.
On Friday, Nov. 2, the Grizzlies faced the Rose State (Oklahoma) Raiders. As the game kicked off, Butler scored when Achey fired the ball straight to the net just two minutes after it started. It set the tone for the Grizzlies.
In the late minutes of the first half, freshman defender Sandra Thiman and sophomore defender Kaylee Swanson scored two more goals.
The second half began with a 3-0 scoring margin.
“The positive first half and getting the early goals really took the air out of Rose State,” Head Coach Adam Hunter said.
In the 78th minute, freshman midfielder Sadie Samenus striked the ball in for the goal off of a corner kick. In the 85th minute, Leidersten fired the ball in for the last goal.
Following the 5-0 win, the Grizzlies advanced to the district championship game, on Saturday, Nov. 3. The Hill (Texas) Rebels were the last step for the Grizzlies on the road to Nationals.
Nine minutes in, sophomore midfielder Melonie Baca got the early goal giving the Grizzlies the lead, 1-0.
“It felt amazing because I haven’t really been able to score during the season and now that it was a really important game, I was able to come out and help the team get to the national tournament,” Baca said. “It was the best feeling I have ever felt.”
In the 14th minute, Butler was awarded a free kick. Leidersten took a shot, but it was blocked by the wall. She then followed her rebound and scored. The Grizzlies took a 2-0 lead into halftime and rode that lead to the end.
Thiman was pleased with her teammates’ efforts in the playoffs.
“I don’t think we’ve let in any goals yet,” Thiman said. “We had the right mentality that it takes to not let in any goals.”
Hunter was proud of the players and coaches with the accomplishment in Texas.
“It was very rewarding, for our players and our coaching staff to win the District Tournament and return to the National Tournament after being gone for a year,” Hunter said “It’s time to go back to work… we want to treat [it] just like it’s two more games.”
The Grizzlies traveled to Foley, Alabama from Monday, Nov. 12 to Saturday, Nov. 17 for the National Tournament. They are in Pool B along with the Lewis and Clark (Illinois) Trailblazers and the Monroe (New York) Tribunes.