Butler posts pair of shutouts to start conference play 2-0

The Butler soccer team opened Jayhawk Conference play with a pair of road victories over the weekend, winning both games on a swing through western Kansas.

On Friday, Butler shut out Garden City 5-0 and on Saturday, the Grizzlies overcame a scoreless first half to defeat Dodge City 3-0.

At Garden, Butler scored its first goal in the 23rd minute when Kelly Sutton assisted Kileigh Vann. Madison Wedekind then scored 12 minutes later on an assist by Andie Hadway.

In the second half, Butler scored just two minutes into the period on a goal by Jaclyn Means on an assist by Amy Strath. Butler then got two goals in a span of 30 seconds in the 78^th minute on an unassisted goal by Brittney Lawrence and a goal in the 79^th minute from Kennedy Johnson on an assist by Madison Wedekind.

Kelsi Langley was Butler's goalkeeper, earning her third straight win and her third straight shutout. She had two saves in the contest.

On Saturday at Dodge City, the game was scoreless through the first half. Butler, however, didn't wait long to get on the board in the second half as Madison Wedekind took advantage of an errant ball by Dodge City that gave her a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper. She  slotted the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead in the 47^th minute.

Minutes later, Wedekind scored her second goal of the game and her third goal of the weekend. She took a pass from Jaclyn Means and knocked the ball into the left netting to put Butler up 2-0 in the 49^th minute. 

Butler's final goal was scored by Madison Zimmer in the 78^th minute on an assist by Kennedy Johnson.

Paige LaBadie earned the shutout victory in goal for Butler. It is her second shutout of the season.

Butler has now shutout five of the last six opponents it has played, going 5-0-1 in that stretch. The only goal allowed was off of a free kick following a foul in a 1-1 tie with No. 3-ranked Tyler (Texas).

The Grizzlies, 5-3-2 overall and 2-0 in Jayhawk Conference action, will continue to play away from home this weekend with a game at Allen County at 2 p.m. on Friday and a game at 3 p.m. at Neosho County on Sunday. The next home game is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2 against Pratt.