No. 2 Butler soccer blanks Dodge 5-0 in Region VI quarterfinal

Butler soccer continued its winning ways into the postseason with a 5-0 shutout win over Dodge City in the Region VI quarterfinals Saturday at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.

The No. 2-ranked Grizzlies (18-2-0 overall) won their 18th consecutive game, which is one win away from the school-record 19-game winning streak that was set in 2012.

Sophomore forward Colleen Howland scored two goals to lead Butler, who led the Conquistadors 4-0 at halftime. The Grizzlies had the wind advantage for the opening half, as gusts were up to 25 mph heading towards the north goal. 

Taylor Martinez opened the scoring for Butler, weaving her way through the middle of the Dodge defense for a goal in the sixth minute.

Katie Hartman extended Butler's lead to 2-0 with a goal from 11 yards out in the 22nd minute. Hartman had a minor collision with a Dodge defender for the ball, but maintained her balance to score the goal.

Howland's first goal came courtesy of a wicked bounce in the 27th minute. Lexi Clark blasted a shot from the right side that went under the crossbar, banged off the left post and and bounced back off the right post to Howland, who tapped in the easy goal.

In the 29th minute, Butler's fourth goal was credited as an own goal scored by Dodge City. Martinez attempted a pass to the center of the 18-yard box to Caro Limon, but Conquistador sophomore Ariana Longmore deflected the ball into the net.

Butler's lone goal in the second half came from Howland, who received a long pass upfield from Lexi Clark and chipped the ball over Dodge keeper Iliana Alvarado's head for a goal.

Grizzly goalkeeper Jami Reichenberger improved to 15-2 overall on the season with her fourth complete shutout. Dodge only had four shots with zero on goal.

Butler will play Coffeyville in Thursday's Region VI semifinal round at Topeka's Hummer Park at 4 p.m. Coffeyville (10-7-2 overall) shut out Hesston 4-0 in quarterfinal play. The Grizzlies swept the season series against the Red Ravens with two shutouts (6-0 at Coffeyville on Sept. 2; 5-0 at El Dorado on Sept. 25).

NOTES: Butler won its 14th straight game against Dodge City, with the last seven victories recorded as shutouts. The Grizzlies improved to 18-3-1 overall all-time against Dodge and are now 11-1-0 vs. the Conquistadors in games played in El Dorado... With Sunday's win, Butler remains a perfect 13-0 all-time in Region VI quarterfinal games.