HUTCHINSON, Kan. – With an outright Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference West Division Title on the line, the number 18-ranked Cloud County Community College women's soccer team overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit with three second-half goals to defeat Hutchinson Community College by a score of 3-1 at the Salt City Soccer Complex in Hutchinson, Kansas on Saturday, October 19th.

With the regular-season now complete, Cloud County will enter postseason play with a 14-2 overall record after finishing KJCCC West Division play with a 12-0 record while the Blue Dragons fall to just the third time all year and are now 12-3 overall and 10-2 in the KJCCC.

It wouldn't be the ideal start by any stretch of the imagination for the T-Birds as Hutchinson would come out determined to get on the board early and take control of a game that was a must-win for the Blue Dragons to earn a share of a KJCCC West Division Title. HCC would manage to break through with a goal on a corner kick placed just in front of goal in the fifth minute of play to go up 1-0 and take an early lead in what would be a similar start to the first meeting between the two squads earlier in the year. Despite allowing the early goal, Cloud County would hold strong throughout the remaining 40 minutes of play in the first half as the score would remain a 1-0 Blue Dragon lead heading into halftime.

Out of the halftime break, CCCC would come out with a renewed determination and mindset as the focus would turn to putting pressure on the HCC back line. In the 50th minute, Cloud County's Franciele Cupertino would rip a shot from 35 yards that would find the back to tie things up at 1-1 with 40 minutes left yet to play. 13 minutes later, it would be Julia Calvo who would manage to take a shot from the left side to beat Blue Dragon keeper Chiara Soergel and give CCCC their first lead of the night as the momentum would completely swing in the direction of the T-Birds heading into the final stretch of the game. An insurance goal from Izabella Christina with 22 minutes remaining would all put the game on ice for Cloud County, as the two-goal lead would allow Cloud County to put even more pressure on HCC as the Blue Dragons would be held scoreless in the second half to give the T-Birds their second conference division title in three years.

  Final stats would see Cloud County outshoot Hutchinson by a total of 15-13 despite being doubled up in corner kicks by the Blue Dragons 4-2. Assists in the match for CCCC would come from Christina and Cupertino as all 15 shots would come from Cloud County starters. Posting her 14th win of the year in net would be freshman Thaynara Soares, turning away three shots while allowing just the one goal.

What's Next?

The NJCAA Region VI Playoffs will get underway on Saturday, October 26th as Cloud County will host a first-round matchup against an opponent to be determined. CCCC has officially earned the top seed in the west division and will take on the number four-seed from the east division, with a kickoff time being set once the bracket is released.