Dodge City women's soccer, competing at home for the first time this season, grabbed an electric 3-2 non-conference win over Western Texas to move to 2-0 on the season, giving them the program's best start since the 2014 season.
After a few early looks for Western Texas, the teams would settle in, and the Conqs would generate a few opportunities of their own. In the 13th minute, Western Texas was awarded a penalty kick attempt and looked to try and take the lead, but would misfire on the opportunity, leaving the game scoreless. The 29th minute would see the Conqs break through as
Layla Moreno Cantalejo would blast a 33-yard outshot and net the goal to give the Conqs the lead. The lead held up until the 37th minute of the first half when Western Texas poked in a goal in traffic in the box to draw even.
Tied 1-1 at halftime, the Conqs looked to come out strong in the second half, and they would as Meike Pätzold placed the ball in the box on a free kick and
Kensia Dos Santos would connect on it to lift the Conqs in front at 2-1. Conqs added to their lead in the 69th minute as
Rinka Hayashi tallied her first goal on a great cross from
Mette Battling to set up the goal. Just two minutes later, Western Texas broke through again as they stole the ball away and got a quick opportunity to tighten the game up at a one-goal differential again. The Conqs would buckle down defensively down the stretch and secure the 3-2 victory.
Conqs would outshoot Western Texas 13-8 in the contest and 10-5 in shots on goal in the matchup. Hayashi, Dos Santos, and Moreno Cantalejo each netted a goal on the day, while Pätzold and Battling each had an assist. In goal,
Kimya Kante-Mavuba played the entire first half and looked to split time with
Lucy Goss but would re-enter in the second half play nearly 70 minutes in the contest recording a pair of saves. Goss, in just over 20 minutes of action, recorded one save.
Up next, the Conqs step into KJCCC play as they will hit the road for the conference opener on Wednesday, September 10th, against Coffeyville with a 2:00 pm start time.
