Butler blanks Coffeyville 2-0, moves into third in KJCCC East standings

COFFEYVILLE, Kan. – Butler soccer recorded its second road conference shutout of the season with a 2-0 win at Coffeyville at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Wednesday.

The Grizzlies (9-4-1 overall, 5-3-1 conference) snapped Coffeyville's three-game winning streak while receiving goals in the later stages of each half from Rachel Wolecki and Sandra Thiman.

With the win, Butler moved into third in the Jayhawk East standings and remains a half-game back of Kansas City Kansas for second place. The Grizzlies also moved a half-game in front of both Coffeyville and Johnson County in the standings with three conference games remaining.

Just 26 seconds before halftime, Butler broke the scoreless tie on a goal from Wolecki. Instead of kicking the ball out of bounds to force a throw-in on Butler's attack side, Coffeyville kept the ball in play and pushed the ball in space up the near sideline.

With the ball staying in bounds, Pricsila Bonilla gained possession of the ball near the sideline, turned while being defended and passed the ball into the right side of the 18-yard box for Wolecki, who had position on a Raven defender. Wolecki then turned and hit a left-footed shot from 12 yards out into the left corner of the goal for a 1-0 Grizzly lead.

Butler extended its lead with an insurance goal from Sandra Thiman, as she headed in a Wolecki corner kick in the 83rd minute.

Coffeyville's best scoring chances came during the second half, as the Ravens had an attempt go off the right post in the 86th minute. Butler goalkeeper Lexi Winkle came out to make a pair of sliding saves during the half to keep the Ravens off the scoreboard.

Winkle played the entire game in goal, making six saves on the night.

Butler was the aggressor in the contest, as the Grizzlies were whistled for 14 fouls to Coffeyville's three. The Grizzlies edged Coffeyville 13-12 in shots, while the Ravens had a 5-4 advantage on corner kicks.

Butler will hold its final regular season home game of the season Saturday at 2:00 p.m. against Neosho County, with the sophomore class will be honored prior to kickoff.

The Grizzlies will end the regular season with road games at Allen on Saturday, Oct. 19 and a makeup game at Cowley on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

NOTES: Butler leads the series 20-0-0 all-time over Coffeyville… The Grizzlies remain undefeated in true road games this season, having gone 3-0-1 on the opponent's home turf.