Susuki’s two goals help the Lady Tiger soccer team tie Dodge City

Things looked bleak for the No. 18-ranked Cowley College women's soccer team after falling behind visiting Dodge City 2-0 late in Wednesday's game played at the Mark A. Phillips Athletic Complex in Arkansas City. However, freshman Hina Susuki scored two goals in a seven-minute span to help the Lady Tigers finish with a 2-2 tie.

Cowley controlled the game in the first half but had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Then, 20 minutes into the second half, Dodge City broke the scoreless tie on a goal by Sian Cha. Twelve minutes later, the Conquistadors would add a second goal, this time by Femke Wiedeman, with only 12:10 remaining in regulation.

Needing a quick response, the Lady Tigers got just that as Susuki scored her first goal of the game only 27 seconds after Wiedeman's goal.

With just over four minutes remaining, Cowley's Nanaka Inaba rocketed a shot off the crossbar that caromed to Susuki, where the midfielder from Japan was able to head the ball into the back of the net.

"Those goals were huge for us," Cowley head coach Roberto dos Santos said. "Hina has been playing really good, and I am happy for her."

Neither team would score again in regulation or overtime, as Cowley is now 2-0-1 in the Jayhawk Conference.

"The girls did a good job of sticking together and kept believing in themselves," dos Santos said. "But, we have got to do a better job of finishing the opportunities we create earlier in the games."

The Conquistadors are now 1-3-1 overall and 0-3-1 in conference play.

Cowley will face a stiff challenge when they play at No. 9-ranked Butler Community College on Saturday at 7 p.m. in El Dorado, KS. The Lady Grizzlies are 1-1 with three ties in their first five games.

"Butler is always a solid team, so we have got to be ready to go on Saturday," dos Santos said.

Photo provided by James Dill