EMPORIA, Kan. — Rogers State Women's Soccer (5-9-3, 3-8-1 MIAA) fell to Emporia State (8-5-5, 5-3-4 MIAA) 3-2 on Wednesday at ESU Pitch.
The Hillcats scored once in each half, while the Hornets recorded all three of their goals after halftime. The Hillcats put seven of their 14 shots on goal, and senior goalkeeper
Calais Butts' play accounted for 10 saves against 20 Hornets shots.
Bella Holland (10) put RSU in front in the 23rd minute, finishing senior
Te Waiariki Read's assist to give the Hillcats a 1-0 lead. Earlier, the Hillcats generated early pressure with senior
Khari Carreno's shot in the third minute and a corner kick shortly after, then added chances from Holland and
Anna Hibbard before the breakthrough. Butts kept the Hornets off the board with first-half saves, including stops in the 15th and 19th minutes before RSU scored. After the goal, the Hillcats added attempts from senior
Kelsey Hogan, Holland and
Lani Waddle, while Butts made three more saves during a late Hornets push to send RSU into halftime ahead 1-0.
Holland (9) brought the Hillcats level in the 65th minute, finishing off a Carreno assist to make it 2-2 after the Hornets had scored twice early in the second half. Earlier, RSU opened the half with a Carreno shot in the 47th minute, but the Hornets answered with goals from Megan Kephart at 50:58 and 56:13 to move ahead 2-1. Butts kept the Hillcats within reach with saves on Rylie Washington shots at 65:02 and 68:57, but Hailey Gancarz scored for the Hornets at 70:11 to put them back in front, 3-2. RSU pushed again from there, taking four shots between the 75th and 85th minutes, including saved attempts from
Zoe Wehrman and Carreno, but the match ended with the Hornets ahead 3-2.
Holland scored both goals, finishing with four points on four shots, including two on goal. Read collected an assist. Carreno recorded an assist and matched Holland with three shots. Butts made 10 saves over 90 minutes, with five in each half. Hogan,
Lydia Smith and
Katie Fisher also played the full 90 minutes.
This marks the conclusion of the 2026 season. The Hillcats will bid farewell to seniors
Calais Butts,
Savannah Green,
Rylee Shroder,
Khari Carreno,
Te Waiariki Read,
Kelsey Hogan,
Taylor Colmo and
Anna Hibbard.
