It was a much closer match than the Grizzlies had hoped for, but an Ellie MacDonald goal with three minutes remaining propelled Butler to a 3-2 win over Kansas City Kansas on the road Wednesday night.
Butler struck first and had the momentum on their side early as Kim McAlpine scored her 17th goal of the season off the assist from Natalie Amaya giving Butler the early lead. Natalie Amaya would get back in on the scoring action, this time off a breakaway, to double the Grizzlies lead scoring the goal. That marked Amaya's fifth goal of the season.
Although trailing 2-0, the Blue Devils didn't shy away from the No. 14-ranked Grizzlies. They came down the field and scored a goal to cut their deficit in half heading into the break.
It was all Kansas City Kansas in the second half as they came out as the aggressors getting Butler to fall back on their heels. Their relentless attack made way for a goal that tied up the match halfway through the second half.
It was back and forth the final 20-minutes as both teams tried to gain an advantage with neither team having much luck. It wasn't until under the five-minute mark when Ellie MacDonald scored the go ahead goal, her first of the season, that would eventually become the game winner.
"We started out great," said head coach Adam Hunter. "We hit a massive valley which allowed them to tie it up, but we finished on our front foot which is good and got the win."
Butler improves to 11-4-1 on the season and 9-1 in conference play. They are three games up in the KJCCC East with Coffeyville in second at 7-4. Butler will host winless Neosho on Saturday, October 16th at 6:00pm at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.
