Garden City wins first match of the season

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-It took them 11 matches, but Garden City finally broke through.

The Broncbusters scored twice in the first 15 minutes of the match, the defense pitched a shutout, and Garden City grabbed their first victory of the season with a 2-0 win over Pratt Wednesday afternoon at Broncbuster Stadium. It ended a 13-match winless streak dating back to last season. It was their first win since Oct. 12, 2018.

Garden City struck early in this one. Less than nine minutes into the action, Ariana Sanchez dribbled left outside the bock and drove a line drive shot past Pratt keeper Haven Johannsen to give the Broncbusters a 1-0 advantage. It was just their second goal in their last eight matches.

A few minutes later, the Broncbusters struck again. This time it was a perfect combination as Valeria Gasca sent a beautiful cross into the box for Noeli Munoz, who sent a rocket into the net, making it 2-0 in the 15^th minute.

From there, it was a defensive stalemate. Garden City goal keeper, Kaylee Keller, kept the Beavers off the board, swatting away eight shots. Then, in the 58^th minute, Pratt had their best chance to score but were called for offsides in the box, wiping a way a sure goal.

Pratt out shot Garden City 9-5, with the Beavers committing eight fouls to the Broncbusters six.

Garden City is back on the road on Saturday at Hutchinson. Match time is set for 6 p.m.