Butler heading to nationals, shuts out #9 Johnson for region title

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Butler women's soccer team took home the Region VI title in dominating fashion with a 4-0 shutout victory over #9 Johnson County on Friday at Hummer Park. The win clinched a fourth Region VI championship for Butler, who advances to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Melbourne, Fla., for the third consecutive year.

Butler (21-2 overall) scored three goals in the second half to win the region title. Grizzly sophomore Morgan Foster scored two goals, while Madison Wedekind and Darci Nightingale added a goal each. Freshman Maddie Decker assisted on three goals.

Foster scored the first goal in the 19th minute as she controlled the ball from the left side and worked around a defender towards the goal. Just outside the 6-yard box, Foster squeezed a shot in between Johnson goalkeeper Janay Stone and the left post.

In the second half, Foster put in Butler's second goal from 15 yards out on an assist from Decker. Foster hit a left-footed grounder that went off Stone's hands and into the right corner of the goal with 36:10 remaining in the game. The goal was the 43rd goal of the season for Foster, who leads the nation in goals scored.

Butler's third goal came in the 63rd minute and was set up on a corner kick that Johnson County failed to clear out. A loose ball in the box made its way out to Decker, who slotted the ball near the left post. Madison Wedekind slid in past the Johnson defense to sneak the ball into the net.

The final goal was set up on a Kelly Sutton free kick near the left sideline. The kick went off a Johnson defender and back out to Nightingale, who hit a left-footed shot from eight yards out in between the left post and a diving Stone.

Butler will take a season-high 14-game winning streak into the national tournament, which begins on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The opponent and times have yet to be determined.

NOTES: The Grizzlies are now 4-3 in Region VI title games... Against Jonhson County, Butler leads the overall series 12-6-1... In Region VI tourney action, Butler is 4-1 against Johnson, including a 2-1 record in championship games.