Sheena Nicol, left, is one of the top players in the NJCAA and for the Hutchinson Community College soccer team. Photo courtesy Hutchinson Community College sports information.
Sheena Nicol, left, is one of the top players in the NJCAA and for the Hutchinson Community College soccer team. Photo courtesy Hutchinson Community College sports information.

By The Collegian staff

All the Hutchinson Community College soccer team lost from last season was this – goal-scoring machine Jordan Downing, who notched a school-record 44 goals last year, and Jazmin Hartshorn, who was a rare 20-20 player with 20 goals and 22 assists.

Is a rebuilding year inevitable. Don’t bet on it.

The Blue Dragons, 17-2 last season, open their season at 5 p.m. Friday at home, and they should have plenty of firepower, new and returning.

Start with sophomore midfielder Sheena Nicol. The Scotland native plays with the strength of a cement truck and the finesse of a ballerina. She had a sensational freshman year with 29 goals and 14 assists.

Irish defender Chloe Flynn also returns, as does midfielders Emilee Kreibiel and Jayde Miyamoto, defender Kaitlyn Moore and goalkeeper Ashley Main.

A promising freshman class joins them, led by local product Brailey Moeder. Defender Kaelee Kimmel is a Wichita South product who won a state wrestling title last winter.

Coach Sammy Lane, the only coach in team history, has never had a losing record, has won at least 10 games every season and has five losses in a season just twice, which both came in the first three seasons of the program’s existence.

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