Sato’s second-half goal helps Cowley tie No. 9-ranked KCK

In a matchup of ranked teams, the No. 14-ranked Cowley College women's soccer team got a second-half goal from sophomore Himari Soto to finish in a tie with ninth-ranked Kansas City Kansas Community College 1-1 on Saturday in Kansas City, KS.

Cowley is now 4-2-1 in the Jayhawk Conference, while Kansas City (6-0-3) is in second place in the conference with a record of 4-0-3.

On Saturday, Kansas City's Kiara Carr scored off an assist from Sierra Montez with 29 minutes left in the first half. The goal was the first allowed by Lady Tiger goalkeeper Marin Peoples in more than 200 minutes, as she had posted back-to-back shutouts entering the contest.

Carr's goal would be all the Blue Devils would get on Saturday as Peoples stopped seven of the eight shots she faced.

Trailing 1-0, Cowley got a beautiful goal by Himari Sato to tie the game at 1-1 with 10 minutes gone in the second half. The goal by Sato was her second of the season.

Neither team would score again as Kansas City goalkeeper Maria Heuman stopped five of the six shots she faced.

"We were flat at the beginning of the game and allowed KCK to make plays, but we were more aggressive in the second half and more disciplined," Cowley head coach Roberto dos Santos said.

Already missing critical pieces on its defensive line, Cowley had to play the final 17 minutes of Saturday's game a player down as sophomore Anne Fernandes was given a red card.

"We were still able to create opportunities and had chances to win at the end," dos Santos said.

Cowley will now prepare to host No. 17-ranked Hutchinson on Wednesday at 5 p.m. The Lady Blue Dragons are 4-1-3 overall and 3-1-3 in the conference.

"Hutchinson will present us with another challenge," dos Santos said. "Neither team can afford to lose. We will need to finish the opportunities we create and have people step up in the back."