Butler Community College Women's Soccer
Coach Adam Hunter

A header by Abby Ponce' lifted the Butler women's soccer team to a 3-2 win in double overtime over defending national champion Tyler (Texas) on Sunday at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.

The loss is the first for Tyler since the 2010 national championship game and is the first regular-season defeat for the Apaches since a 2-1 loss to Navarro in October 2008. Tyler won national championships in 2009 and 2011. The Apaches are currently ranked No. 1 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll and No. 2 in the most recent National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll.

The Grizzlies (No. 3 NSCAA and No. 9 NJCAA), scored first on an unassisted goal by Lamya Scott in the 15th minute. Tyler would get a goal from Jaquelyn Olle in the 21st minute that would make it a tie game at the half.

Tricia Gould-Joe scored Tyler's second goal, which came just after halftime in the 52nd minute, giving Tyler a 2-1 advantage.

Scott, a freshman from Wichita Heights High School, scored again for the Grizzlies to tie the game in the 60th minute and neither team would score again for the remainder of the regulation. Tyler had two chances to score, but Butler goalkeeper Aisling Dyer made critical saves in the 83rd and 88th minutes to preserve the tie.

Early in the first overtime, Butler committed a foul inside the 18-yard box, giving Tyler a penalty kick. The attempt by Alice Coyne went wide to the left and the game continued.

In the second overtime period, a Tyler foul gave the Grizzlies a free kick from about 30 yards out in the game's 105th minute. Freshman defender Darci Nightengale served the ball into the air and Abby Ponce' tapped it just inside the left post for the game-winning goal.

Butler is now 4-2 on the season. The Grizzlies have gone 2-2 against teams ranked in the top five of one of the two major national polls so far, with wins over Laramie County (Wyo.) and Tyler and overtime losses to Iowa Western and Brevard (Fla.).

4 games into the season and Butler Soccer is 3-1. The only loss coming to #2 Iowa Western in a tight 1-0 overtime match. In preparation for the week ahead, the team spent Labor Day doing some sight seeing and team bonding in Estes Park, Colorado. It is our firm belief that your collegiate soccer career should be about more then winning championships. We are here to provide memories you will have for a life time. After a weekend full of big wins and new experiences, we will prepare for one of the biggest weekends of our season. Not only is it great to be part of a program dedicated to excellence, but it is always great to be a grizzly.

The Butler women's soccer team recorded an impressive road win on Sunday as the fourth-ranked Grizzlies defeated No. 7 Laramie County in dramatic fashion.

Abby Ponce scored on a crossing header off a double assist from Alyssa Miller and Alyssia Salinas with just 1:09 minute left in the contest, lifting the Grizzlies to a 1-0 win.

The contest was a rematch of last year's District B championship game between the two teams, which Butler won on penalty kicks to qualify for its first-ever trip to the NJCAA National Tournament. This is the fourth consecutive triumph for Butler in the series after Laramie County had won the first four meetings in the all-time series.

Butler had six shots on goal to Laramie County's five, but the big difference came on corner kicks, as Butler had eight while Laramie County had just one. It was on the final corner kick that Butler was able to score its goal. Laramie was also assessed 11 fouls to Butler's four, while the Eagles were handed the only three yellow cards of the contest.
Butler goalkeeper Aisling Dyer made five saves in the game, including two outstanding efforts in the second half to keep the contest scoreless.

The Grizzlies are now 3-1 on the season and 1-1 against teams ranked in the top 10 nationally. The Grizzlies will play two more national powers at home this weekend when they play defending Florida state champion Brevard Community College at 4 p.m. on Friday at the Butler soccer field and then face defending national champion Tyler (Texas) on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the new BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.

Season is upon us and....The Grizzlies are Coming

Pre-season rankings were posted by the NJCAA this week. After finishing the season in 5th place at the National Tournament, Butler received the same standing going into the 2012 season. The 5th ranked Grizzlies will battle 4 other top 10 teams during the regular season including #1 Tyler, #7 Laramie, #8 Brevard and their KJCCC rival Hutchinson. The season will kick off on Friday August 24 at Iowa Western. Butler have their home opener against Allen County Wednesday August 29th in the new BG Products Veteran Stadium. Kick off is set for 7:30 PM.

Pre-season rankings were posted by the NJCAA this week. After finishing the season in 5th place at the National Tournament, Butler received the same standing going into the 2012 season. The 5th ranked Grizzlies will battle 4 other top 10 teams during the regular season including #1 Tyler, #7 Laramie, #8 Brevard and their KJCCC rival Hutchinson. The season will kick off on Friday August 24 at Iowa Western. Butler have their home opener against Allen County Wednesday August 29th in the new BG Products Veteran Stadium. Kick off is set for 7:30 PM.

3 Butler Grizzlies spend their summer playing for the Tulsa Spirit.

The Spirit are a WPSL team based out of Tulsa Oklahoma. The Women's Premier Soccer League is an independent national league whose main focus is on the development of highly competitive premier women's soccer teams. The WPSL also makes every effort to bring quality soccer to all levels of the community and to promote the stature of female athletes as role models for our youth. Grizzlies, Megan Snyder, Mari Ruvalcaba and Teresa Offerman, will represent Butler and the Spirit this summer as they train with other top collegiate players to improve their skills in a highly competitive environment.

The Spirit opens their season this Friday against the Fort Worth Panthers. Follow their action and the continued development of professional women's soccer in the US at http://www.wpsl.info/team/i...

A Decade of Dominance- 156-45-7

Since the inception of Butler Soccer in 2002, the Grizzlies have prospered in both the classroom and the on the field. The achievements are highlighted by 5 conference championships, 6 academic conference championships, and an appearance in the 2011 national tournament where the team finished 5th in the country. That is correct; the Grizzlies have been conference champions more than half of their existence while compiling an overall record of 156-45-7. All the while finishing every academic year with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Sunday April 29th, Butler celebrated this decade of dominance, by welcoming 10 years worth of players back to campus. The day started with an alumni match pitting the former grizzlies against the current team and ended with an awards banquet during which an all-decade team was named. The day was filled with laughs, tears and memories of what it meant and what it will always mean to be a grizzly!

2002-2012 All-Decade Team

K- Meredith Stimson 2005-06
K- Melanie Nuessen 2010-11
B- Mandi Roan 2010-11
B- Andrea Howell 2005-06
B-Kelsey Garrison 2010-11
B- Bertha Fajardo 2008-09
B- Lindsey Clark 2002-03
M-Perla Hernandez 2010-11
M-Toni Knabe 2003-04
M-Ashley Michels 2005-06
M- Katy Kingsley 2003-04
M- CJ Dean 2008-09
M- Cassie Dauber 2006-07
F-Cindy Benitez 2009-10
F-Sade Humphery 2008-09
F- Natausha Sanchez 2010-11
F- Kelsey Van Sickle 2005-06
F-Ashley Tatum 2004-05

Some of the accolades collected along the way...

5 KJCCC Regular Season Championships
2 NJCAA Region VI Championships
NJCAA District B Championship
NJCAA National Tournament Appearance
7 time NJCAA Academic Team of the Year
5 time NSCAA Academic Team of the Year

BG Products Veterans Sports Complex construction is well under way. Everyday we see the progress of the future home of Butler Grizzlies Soccer. Check out the progress of the new state of the art stadium!

Butler Soccer hosted the Spring Kick Off Clinic last night and had a great group of kids out! Youth players worked on dribbling, passing and receiving, shooting and defending. At the end of the night they put it all together in a small sided tournament! Its amazing to give back to a younger generation and help them grow their passion for the beautiful game!