HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Butler soccer moved into sole possession of first place in the Jayhawk Conference standings with a 3-2 road victory over No. 20 Hutchinson on Friday at the Salthawk Sports Complex.
The No. 7 Grizzlies (13-2-0 overall, 9-0-0 conference) received a pair of first-half goals by freshman forward Paige Achey, then needed a header goal in the 78th minute by sophomore Rosa Urista-Chico to seal the win over the rival Blue Dragons.
Butler led 2-0 at the break behind Achey's two goals. In the 16th minute, Achey received the ball on a breakaway and slotted a left-footed shot just to the right of Hutch goalkeeper Jennifer Currie and inside the right post.
Achey scored the second goal in the 25th minute, kicking a grounder once again past the right side of Currie. This time, a pair of Hutchinson defenders collided into the goal trying to deny the goal as the ball made its way into the net.
Hutchinson broke the shutout in the 58th minute when Renee Gillespie scored on a set piece in the 58th minute. Gillespie's goal was the first allowed goal against the Grizzlies in just over 552 minutes of play.
Leading 2-1, Colleen Howland assisted on a Urista-Chico header from 12 yards out in the 78th minute, which proved to be the difference maker.
Gillespie pulled the Dragons back within a goal with just over two minutes left in the contest. Gillespie took a Jordan Downing pass and put it just under the left side of Butler keeper Jami Reichenberger, who was sliding to defend the shot.
However, Hutch failed to threaten again, which allowed Butler to hold on for the win. The victory moved the Grizzlies past Johnson County in the overall standings, as Butler now has 27 points to Johnson's 25. Butler still has two conference games remaining (vs. KCK on Friday, Oct. 23; vs. Johnson on Sunday, Oct. 25).
The Grizzlies step out of conference play with a home contest Sunday against Northwest Kansas Tech. Kickoff from BG Products Veterans Sports Complex is at 7 p.m.
