By Steve Carpenter
HCCSports Information Director
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Freshman forward Melissa Heatherington broke two team records and tied two others as the Hutchinson Community College women’s soccer team rolled past Pratt 12-0 on Wednesday in the Lady Dragons’ home opener at the USD 308 Athletic Complex.
Scoring for the first time in an HCC uniform, Heatherington scored six goals and tallied 12 points, both new team single-game records. She scored five goals and had 10 points in the first half, tying marks for goals and points in a single half.
“I hadn’t been scoring in the first two games, so it was great to score six,” Heatherington said. “I wouldn’t have been able to score them without the passes and the through-balls from the other players, so I am very happy.”
“That was the quietest six-goal performance I’ve ever seen,”HCC head coach Sammy Lane said. “You talk about efficiency. She might have only touched the ball about 10 times. The kid is very good in front of the goal. Sometimes she likes to defer when she should have an impact on the game. She has great composure in front of the goal.”
The Lady Dragons (3-0, 3-0 Jayhawk Conference) won their 26th consecutive Jayhawk Conference game, extended their home unbeaten streak to 29 games (28-0-1) and their regular-season unbeaten streak to 38 games (37-0-1).
Sophomore midfielder Pearl Slattery tied a single-game record with five assists. She scored a goal for the third-straight game and finished the day with seven points.
“We weren’t as sloppy as we have been in the first two games,” Slattery said. “We were passing to the feet. We had a lot of passes over the top to the forwards. We really played well today.”
Freshman Andrea Thompson scored a pair of goals, one in each half. Sophomore Rebekah Ramstack, sophomore Madison Joyce and freshman Sydney Armstrong also scored goals. Sophomore Logan Shupe had two assists. Other assists came from Ramstack, sophomore Alicia Robinson, sophomore Polly New and Joyce. Hutchinsondominated play from the opening kickoff with Heatherington netting her first tally just 58 second into the game.
The Lady Dragons outshot Pratt 38-1, putting 24 shots on goal. Pratt goalkeeper Corrin Cook had 11 saves.
“This gave us a boost,” Heatherington said. “We worked well today as a team. This will give is our edge to want to win more.”
HCC posted its second shutout of the season and the 71st shutout in program history. Starting goalkeeper Eunice Figueroa didn’t record a save in 72 minutes. Backup keeper Emily Soza had one.
Possession was played inHutchinson’s offensive half nearly 98 percent of the game. Pratt had just the one shot on goal and had one corner kick.
“I thought we played better today,” Lane said. “We got more people in offensively in the game. We got the through passes going and the little quick play that we like to do. We’ve gotten better each game. Now we build on this performance.”
Heatherington scored the first four goals of the contest.HCClead 3-0 just 15 minutes into the game and 6-0 at halftime.
The Lady Dragons will continue its four-game homestand on Saturday afternoon when Allen Community College comes to the USD 308 Athletic Complex for a3 p.m.kickoff.
GAME NOTES – Heatherington broke the single-game goals record held by Caitlyn Coney, Stephanie Franz and Elisha Schultz, who combined to score five goals five times. … Slattery tied Finola Corley and Ciara Corby for the single-game assist record. … Rebekah Ramstack scored her first career goal on Wednesday. … Slattery has a team-high five goals this season. … Sophomore Polly New registered an assist in her third-straight game. …HCC is now 2-0 vs. Pratt, a school that began its program last season. HCC has outscored Pratt 23-0 in two games.