CHANUTE, Kan. — Butler soccer took a half-game lead over Johnson County in the Jayhawk East standings with a 5-0 shutout road victory over Neosho County on Sunday.
The 18th-ranked Grizzlies (11-4-0 overall, 8-1 conference) scored four second-half goals – including a hat trick from sophomore forward Kennedy Weaver. With the win, Butler moved into first place with three conference games remaining, while Johnson County still has four.
Butler took a 1-0 lead at the break on a Zion DeWerff goal in the 36th minute, which was assisted by Holly Stewart.
Weaver netted her first goal just seven minutes into the second half, coming on a Ky Kreemer pass. Weaver put Butler up 3-0 on a penalty kick in the 57th minute, then followed with her third goal in the 75th minute on a DeWerff assist.
DeWeff added her second goal of the contest on a Stewart assist in the 77th minute to cap the scoring.
Butler outshot Neosho by a 15-3 margin in the second half and had a 25-13 shot advantage for the game. The Grizzlies also had an 8-1 edge on corner kicks.
Grizzly sophomore Elena Garcia made nine saves while picking up her fourth shutout of the season.
Next up for Butler will be a 5:30 p.m. road contest on Friday at Cowley (3-11, 1-9). The Grizzlies will then finish the regular season with two home matches against Allen County (Sunday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.) and Kansas City Kansas (Friday, Oct. 20, 4 p.m.)
NOTES: Butler remains undefeated against Neosho County, improving to 24-0-0 all-time vs. the Panthers. Butler picked up its 10th road win in Chanute and 19th overall shutout over Neosho County... Weaver's hat trick was her second of the season and Butler's third overall on the year. Weaver scored four goals in the Aug. 22 season opener at Iowa Western, while Kreemer had three goals in a 7-1 home win over Cowley back on Sept. 22.