September 5, 2008

Hernandez nets hat trick as Lady Tigers earn program’s first win

Wow! Just two games into its inaugural season, the Cowley College women’s soccer team picked up an impressive 4-0 win over Independence Community College Thursday in Arkansas City.

Led by Amber Hernandez’s three goals, Cowley dominated Independence in all phases of the game.
“I don’t think we thought it would be this big of a win, but we had confidence in ourselves,” Hernandez said.

Cowley head coach Roberto Dos Santos was proud of the way his team played in front of a boisterous home crowd.

“It was clear we were the dominant team,” Dos Santos said. “The crowd was really inspiring.”

Hernandez, a freshman from Ponca City, Okla., scored the opening goal with 12:27 left in the first half. Despite keeping the ball on Independence’s side of the field throughout the opening half, the score remained 1-0 heading into halftime.

However, Cowley blew the game open early in the second half as Hernandez scored a pair of goals in the first eight minutes to put the Lady Tigers on top 3-0. Carol Rodrigues’ goal with 18:36 remaining capped the scoring. Rodrigues assisted on Hernandez’s first two goals, while Brittany Griffin assisted on the final goal.

Hernanez has been battling a foot injury that caused her to miss some practice time, but you would never have know it based on her performance on Thursday.

“She is an amazing leader for us, we were lucky to get her,” Dos Santos said.

Carly Budd recorded the shutout in goal for the Lady Tigers as Cowley out-shot Independence 10-0.

The victory improves Cowley’s record to 1-1 on the season and 1-1 in the Jayhawk Conference. Independence falls to 1-2 on the season and 0-1 in the conference.

The Lady Tigers will be back in action Saturday when they play at Hutchinson at 2 p.m. The Lady Blue Dragons are 2-0 on the season and are the defending Region VI champions.

“It will be a test for us,” Dos Santos said.