The Butler soccer team keeps finding a way in the postseason as they advance to the Region VI Championship game after a 1-0 shutout win over Hutchinson Saturday at Stryker Sports Complex keeping their season alive yet again.
"Our defense won this game," said goalkeeper Maggie Koster. "The defensive line kept them out of the box, I didn't have to do a whole lot, they kept them in front. I am so proud of my defense for this one.
Hutch were the aggressors much of the first half, but a strong defensive line didn't allow many shots on goal and the score was 0-0 at the break.
The second half featured the lone goal of the game and it came on a 35-yard free kick by freshman Ellie MacDonald in the 74th minute which was set up by a foul by Hutchinson. The kick skipped past the Blue Dragon defense and found its way into the goal without any touch.
Butler would hang on in the final 16-minutes and a late shot on goal that Koster got a hand on would end the Blue Dragons hope of tying the match as Butler defeated longtime rival in a thrilling shutout.
An even more exciting part of this win was the Grizzlies had to play the second half without head coach Adam Hunter who left at halftime to attend his daughter's high school graduation.
NEXT UP: Butler (7-8) will now play in their 11th Region VI Championship game and will face the Barton Cougars (11-3-1) at 3:00pm at Stryker Sports Complex with the winner advancing to the NJCAA National Tournament. Barton defeated the Grizzlies just a few weeks ago in El Dorado in a 4-0 game in favor of the Cougars. Butler will look to continue their hot playoff streak as they enter this game, as they have in the previous two, as the underdog.
NOTES: Butler leads the all-time series over Hutchinson at 12-9. The Grizzlies improved to 5-4 against the Blue Dragons in Region VI postseason play…. Sunday's championship game will mark the 11th Region VI title appearance in the program's history.
