BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

After Liberal's soccer team scored two lightning-quick goals in the first 2:17, Great Bend's girls matched the Lady Red's level of play for the next 50 minutes.

The Panthers start five freshman (Teegan Guerra, Natalia Rodriguez, Brooke Bodine, Valeria Cuevas, Araceli Aguilera), four sophomores (Grecia Dominquez, Brissa Leyva, Eva Garcia, Melissa Gutierrez) along with junior sparkplug Jillian Reimer and senior Evelyn Luna. 

Freshman sensation Yesenia Pulido passed to Reimer to spark a spirited second-half offensive attack. Reimer was a consistent threat when she missed the goal twice and had a third quality shot deflected. Guerra deflected one of the Panthers' three first-half corner kicks wide of the goal. 

"Our effort was there. We're seeing good things from our girls," said Great Bend coach Noel Rodriguez. "Our communication was high. We played composed soccer and worked together. Our attacking options were there today. We got to the goal today, something we've worked on. We're applying to game situations." 

Liberal (5-3-1, 2-2) finished with strong with four goals in the final 18 minutes for a 7-0 Western Athletic Conference soccer match. Great Bend's girls (1-6, 0-5) has lost 29 consecutive league games dating back to 2019.

Liberal's athletic and strong Hailey Contreras converted a trio of goals. Evelin Tarango, Nicole Catalan and Mayra Hernandez fired goals past Panther goalie Grecia Dominquez.

Liberal took advantage of small defensive errors.

"There's definitely progress in our game," Rodriguez said. "We had a few silly mistakes and accidental happenings that hurt us. They broke us down. It hurt our morale. We've got to stay composed and finish strong."

Defender Aguilera keyed the backline by playing a physical style and saving a goal by clearing the ball. Goalie Dominguez made several athletic saves, including a block on a rocket shot by Gomez.

"Our defense is playing braver and worked well today," Rodriguez said. "Our goalie Grecia (Dominguez) played really well today."

Liberal 3 4 — 7

Great Bend 0 0 — 0

FIRST HALF—L—Evelin Tarango, 1:16; L—Hailey Contreras, 2:17; L—Contreras, 36:00.

SECOND HALF—L—Nicole Catalan, 62:31; L—Mayra Hernandez, 65:18; L—Contreras, 68:48; L—Jasmin Gomez, 71:12.

THURSDAY—Liberal 7, Great Bend 0; Dodge City 2, Garden City 2; Wichita Trinity at Hays

WAC SOCCER

Dodge City 2-0-1 5-3-1

Garden City 2-0-1 4-3-1

Hays 3-1 6-3

Liberal 2-2 5-3-1

Great Bend 0-5 1-6

DODGE CITY (2-0-1, 5-3-1)—L Derby 0-2; W TMP 10-0; L Wichita NW 0-2; L Derby 1-2; W Wichita SE 1-0; W Hays 2-1; W Wichita South 10-0; W Great Bend 5-0; TIE Garden City 2-2; 4-16 Liberal; 4-18 TMP; 4-23 Garden City; 4-25 Great Bend; 5-2 Hays; 5-6 at Circle; 5-9 at Liberal

GARDEN CITY (2-0-1, 4-3-1)—W Liberal 3-0; L Buhler 1-3; L Rose Hill 0-1; W Arkansas City 10-0; L Rose Hill 0-1; W Great Bend 5-0; W TMP 10-0; TIE Dodge City 2-2; 4-15 Great Bend' 4-23 at Dodge City; 5-2 at TMP; 5-7 at Liberal 5-10 Hays

HAYS HIGH (2-1, 6-3)—W Great Bend 3-1; L Topeka 1-4; W Salina South 3-2; W Newton 2-1; L Dodge City 1-2; W Liberal 2-1; L Manhattan 0-5; W Junction City 3-0; W Wichita Trinity 4-1; 4-16 Garden City; 4-18 at Liberal; 4-18; 4-22 at Great Bend; 5-2 at Dodge City; 5-7 TMP; 5-10 at Garden City 

LIBERAL (2-2, 5-3-1)—L Garden City 0-3; W Winfield 3-1; L Hutchinson 0-5; W Salina Central 3-1; W Great Bend 7-0; L Hays 1-2; TIE Lamar, Colo. 1-1; W Guymon, Okla. 3-0; W Great Bend 7-0; 4-16 at Dodge City; 4-18 Hays; 4-23 Alva, Okla.; 4-25 TMP; 5-3 at Topeka; 5-7 Garden City; 4-9 Dodge City

GREAT BEND (0-5, 1-6)—L Wichita North 0-10; L Hays 1-3; W TMP 11-1; L Liberal 0-7; L Garden City 0-5; L Dodge City 0-5; L Liberal 0-7; 4-15 at Garden City; 4-18 at Nickerson; 4-22 Hays; 4-25 Dodge City; 4-29 at TMP; 4-30 Wichita SE; 5-6 at Manhattan; 5-7 at Wichita South; 5-9 Junction City