Grizzly Soccer notches top 5 victory, takes down Monroe for first win this season

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Butler soccer has played well this season but did not have much to show for it, until Sunday that is.

The No. 11 ranked Grizzlies (1-1-3, 0-1-2 KJCCC) picked up their first victory of the season, a 4-0 shutout win over a top five nationally ranked team in No. 5 ranked Monroe CC (1-2) on Sunday afternoon at JCCC Soccer Field.

Butler had previously come away with draws at No. 8 ranked Seminole State and at No. 14 ranked Barton but put their best foot forward in the neutral site clash with Monroe.

Freshman Sakiko Manabe (Tanabe, Japan) scored two goals, one in each half, to lead the Grizzlies. Her first goal was the first of the game as Manabe took a pass from freshman Zonia Marshall (St. Kitts) outside the area and put it in the top right corner to give Butler a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. Her second goal put Butler ahead 3-0 when she finished a cross inside the penalty area in the 58th minute as freshman Alex Robson (Dundee, Scotland) assisted.

Sophomore Emma Kolbe (Mulvane) scored unassisted in the 27th minute to out Butler up 2-0 while freshman Kyndell Letcher (Kansas City) rounded out the Butler scoring in the 69th minute off an assist from freshman Jessica Peterson (Andover).

Sophomore goalkeeper Carla Apodaca (Chihuahua, Mexico) tallied eight saves in the win, her second consecutive eight save performance as she also had eight in the draw with KCK on Wednesday.

Monroe finished with 16 shots to Butler's 11, while Butler had seven corner kicks to Monroe's two. Butler also had 13 fouls to Monroe's six. Maya Hoge and Robson picked up yellow cards for the Grizzlies.

Butler now turns its attention to Wednesday, Sept. 6, as they travel to Hutchinson to take on the Blue Dragons in a KJCCC match at the Salthawk Sports Complex, slated for 6 p.m. CT.