Lady Tiger soccer team picked first in the conference
For the second-straight year, the Cowley College women’s soccer team has been picked to win the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Division 1 Women’s Soccer preseason order of finish following a vote of league coaches.
Cowley College head coach Roberto dos Santos was happy but surprised to have his team picked first in the conference.
"I am honored and excited for this extra pressure," dos Santos said. "There is no doubt it will be a tough season ahead. Every game will be a battle. We are preparing our players to be focused and ready for things that may be out of our plans. We are excited about the work and challenges ahead."
Receiving five of eight first-place votes and a total of 54 points, the Tigers once again top the poll with Hutchinson Community College picked to finish second after playing to a 2-2 draw against Cowley last year in the NJCAA D1 Women's Soccer Plains District Tournament Championship game. The Blue Dragons received 49 total points and two first-place votes as HCC enters year 21 as a program under coach Sammy Lane, the only coach in program history.
Following Hutchinson is perennial KJCCC power Butler Community College with 47 total points and the lone remaining first-place votes, as the Grizzlies have seen their season end in the NJCAA D1 Women's Soccer Plains District Tournament semifinal round each of the past two years after making three straight NJCAA National Tournament appearances from 2020 to 2022. Rounding out the top five of the preseason predicted order of finish poll is Barton with 38 points and Dodge City with 29 points as both look to build upon their fifth and sixth-place finishes in last year's regular season standings. Following Dodge City in the poll was Garden City with 28 total points to be picked sixth, while Coffeyville (18 points) and Seward County (17 points) finish off the eight-team poll, with both teams competing in 2025 under new head coaches.
The 2025 season officially gets underway on Thursday, August 21st, when Coffeyville takes the field for a non-conference matchup with the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain before seeing Butler, Seward County, and Garden City all kick off their respective seasons the following day. Barton will open their season on August 23rd before seeing Hutchinson start their season two days later on Monday, August 25th. The final two teams to begin their respective seasons will be Dodge City, with a road game at Highland Community College on August 30th. Cowley will wait until September 4th to start their season with a road match at Seminole State College. Conference play will begin on Wednesday, September 10th, with four games taking place. Dodge City will head to Coffeyville, Barton will play at Seward County, Butler will go to Garden City, and Cowley will face off with Hutchinson. Each team in the conference will play 14 conference games this season before wrapping up the regular season on October 26th, ahead of postseason play.