Conq women edge Garden City, clinch regional home game

DC3's Beth Ulrich, seen earlier this season, scored one of the Conqs' two goals Wednesday against Garden City.

Box Score GARDEN CITY, Kan. -- Cynthia Rodela's goal midway through the second half secured a Dodge City Community College 2-1 win over Garden City Community College on Wednesday and a home game for the Region VI playoffs.

The Conquistadors (10-5 overall) sit at 7-3 in KJCCC play - good for fourth place in the conference. The top four spots host in the opening round of the KJCCC tournament and DC3 holds a game-and-a-half edge over fifth-place Barton with the Conqs with one game left and the Cougars with two. Even if Barton were to tie DC3, the Conqs hold the head-to-head edge.

DC3 has a chance to move into the No. 3 spot Friday as the Conqs travel to take on third-place Hutchinson (7-2 KJCCC). The Blue Dragons are a half game up on the Conqs with two games left and a win for DC3 Friday would at least tie Hutchinson for third and give the Conqs the tiebreaker.

As for Wednesday's match, DC3 got on the board first on a goal by Beth Ulrich set up by Rodela in the first half to take a 1-0 lead into the break.

Garden City tied the game when Halima Audu scored midway through the second half before Rodela put the the Conqs ahead for good in the 65th minute on a goal set up by Kristina Trinceri and Rachel VanBuskirk. It was Rodela's team-high 13th goal of the season.

DC3 keeper Elyssia Lucio finished with seven saves.

NOTES: Wednesday's win was the program's 10th this season, a mark it has only hit three other times since the program started in 2001. ... It's the first time the program has reached the 10-win mark since 2007 (the Conqs are coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons). ... The seven wins in conference play is the second most in program history, second only to 2002's 10-1 conference record. ... This marks the first time since 2007 the DC3 women have finished above .500 in conference play.

Players Mentioned

#22 Elyssia Lucio: GK; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#21 Kristina Trinceri: MF; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#2 Beth Ulrich: MF; 5' 1"; Sophomore

#23 Rachel VanBuskirk: D; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#9 Cynthia Rodela: F; 5' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#22 Elyssia Lucio
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: GK

#21 Kristina Trinceri
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: MF

#2 Beth Ulrich
: 5' 1"; Sophomore
: MF

#23 Rachel VanBuskirk
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: D

#9 Cynthia Rodela
: 5' 3"; Freshman
: F