Butler records fifth straight shutout with 8-0 win at Neosho

CHANUTE, Kan. - Butler soccer extended its consecutive shutout streak to five straight games Friday evening with an 8-0 win over Neosho County.

With the victory over the Panthers, No. 4 Butler (12-2-0, 7-0-0 conference) is one game away from matching the longest shutout streak (six games, 2011) in the program's history. The Grizzlies also won their 12th consecutive game while remaining undefeated in Jayhawk Conference play. 

Lexi Clark and Caro Limon each scored two goals and an assist for Butler, who has not allowed a goal in 438 minutes. 

Butler jumped out to a 3-0 lead quickly with three goals in a three-minute span beginning in the 12th minute.

The Grizzlies' opening score came from sophomore Colleen Howland, who netted her team-high 18th goal of the season. Howland scored from inside the 6-yard goal box on a pass from Lexi Clark.

Clark then put Butler up 2-0 on a botched corner kick clearout by Neosho. The Panthers avoided the first wave on the kick, but the Grizzlies regained possession of the ball and found Clark for the goal.

Lauren Allan then followed with a right-footed blast from the left side that went off a Neosho defender who was standing near the left post. Allan, who earned KJCCC weekly player honors last week, has scored a goal in the last five games (10 goals total).

Clark added her second goal of the contest from nearly 20 yards out to give Butler a 4-0 advantage with 10 minutes left in the opening half.

Two minutes into the second half, Katie Hartman scored on an assist from Howland for the Grizzlies' fifth goal.

Limon added back-to-back goals, both coming from 15 yards out in the 74th and 78th minute, then Kennedy Weaver finished the Butler scoring with a Limon assist.

Goalkeepers Jami Reichenberger and Elena Garcia combined for the Grizzlies' sixth shutout on the year. Reichenberger played the first half, then re-entered in the 63rd minute when Garcia left with an injury.

Butler will host Johnson County for a cruical conference match on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The Cavaliers (7-3-1 overall, 6-0-1 conference) are just a half-game back behind the Grizzlies in the Jayhawk Conference East Division standings. Johnson tied Coffeyville 0-0 at home in conference play Thursday, which allowed Butler to overtake the division lead with Friday's win.

NOTES: Butler is one home victory away from matching its school record for most consecutive home wins on Sunday against Johnson County. The Grizzlies won 21 straight home contests from 2004 to 2006. Butler's last home loss came against Hutchinson in a 2-1 overtime loss on Oct. 17, 2014... Howland has scored a point in each of Butler's 12 victories. Over that span, the sophomore forward has 47 points (18 goals, 11 assists)... Butler has outscored Jayhawk Conference opponents 55-5 in seven games this season.