Panthers battle, but lose 2-1

LIBERAL — A challenging 0-3 week for Great Bend’s girls soccer team ended in a 2-1 loss to Liberal, but it marked the Panthers’ best effort in three games.

Great Bend led nine minutes into the second half when the Redskins scored. The Panthers led 1-0 on Mayra Ramirez’s free kick after a Liberal foul at the 37-minute mark of the first half.

Liberal (4-4-1, 3-1-1 WAC) outscored the Panthers 2-0 in the second half keyed by a 25 mph north wind. The Redskins opened the season with eight road games.

Kim Alarcon bounced a centering pass on a corner kick to Jasmine Hernandez for a tying goal.

Liberal midfielder Aileen Moreno keyed the Redskins’ offense in the second half.  Gisselle Melendez raced into the goal area and fired a goal into right side of the net with 11 minutes left for a 2-1 victory.

Great Bend (1-6, 0-5 WAC) lost 1-0 to Liberal at home to open WAC play. Dodge City downed Great Bend 6-1 Monday and Hays beat the Panthers 7-0 Tuesday.

WAC GIRLS SOCCER

Garden City 2-0-0 5-1-2

Hays High 2-0-1 6-1-1

Liberal 3-1-1 4-4-1

Dodge City 1-2 3-6

Great Bend 0-5 1-6

THURSDAY—Liberal 2, Great Bend 1

FRIDAY—Dodge City at Garden City

MONDAY—Hays at Garden City

TUESDAY—Garden City at Great Bend; Dodge City at Wichita Trinity; Hays-TMP at Liberal