OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 18 ranked Johnson County women's soccer team opened the 2023 season on the road in Arizona last weekend, splitting the trip with a loss at No. 1 and defending national champion Phoenix College and ending with a victory at Scottsdale Community College. 

On Friday night, August 18 the Cavaliers were in Phoenix facing the Bears. Phoenix jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a goal four-minutes, 58-seconds after the start, but freshman __ Karsen Koehler (Mansfield, Texas) tied the game with her first collegiate goal in the 24^th minute off an assist from freshman forward Jenna Knight (Edwardsville, Kan.)

Just a little over four minutes later Phoenix took the lead for good and capped the victory with goal in the 81^st minute for a 3-1 victory. 

On Sunday afternoon, August 20, Johnson County evened their record at 1-1-0 with 1-nil win at Scottsdale. Sophomore forward Megan Everhart (McPherson, Kan.), an all-conference selection and team's leading scorer last season, netted the game winner in the 43^rd minute off an assist from freshman midfielder Sydney Hammett (Lee's Summit, Mo.) 

Freshman goalkeeper Maddox Fergus (Overland Park, Kan.) earned her first collegiate victory and shutout stopping all six shots by the Artichokes. 

Johnson County will open its home slate on Friday, August 25, against Indian Hills at 5 p.m., followed by an 11 a.m., match against Hawkeye on Sunday, August 27.