CHANUTE — The Red Devils felt good about their chances to improve to 3-3 in the Jayhawk Conference, before they made the bus trip down to Chanute to face off with Neosho County Community College.
Allen had defeated Neosho less than two weeks ago by five goals. On Sunday they made certain there would be no upsets by jumping out to a 3-0 first half lead on goals from each of their top scorers with Ira Taylor, Brynn Suddeth and Leigh-Anne Bartlett all finding the back of the net early and allowing the Red Devils to cruise to a 3-0 victory.
“I thought that they did a great job of making their runs and being around the goal,” Allen coach Jeremy McGinnis said. “We definitely got a lot of opportunities.”
Late in the game, with the final result being long-since decided, the mind-set for the Red Devils had to change.
“At the end, I thought (Neosho) really got frustrated and they were just running through us instead of playing the game,” McGinnis said. “That tends to happen at times, especially when teams are not successful so they try to get fired up and upset and they just go through the ball. Obviously with me only having one substitute, that was a very big concern for me.”
The last thing Allen needed from this blowout victory was another to injury to their already depleted squad. They entered the game with only one available non-goalie substitution off the bench because of a rash of injuries to begin the season.
“Absolutely,” McGinnis said when asked if he was happy with how his group handled the physical style of the second half. “We kept on just telling (our team) to ‘just play the game’ and they did a very good job of just doing that.”
The Red Devils were able to avoid any addition injuries and escape Chanute with the win and now they turn their attention to a big upcoming week of conference action.
On Wednesday, they go on the road to face Cowley County Community College and they are right back on the road for a game with Kansas City Kansas Community College on Friday.
“We are now 3-3 in conference,” McGinnis said. “If we can take care of business during the next week, we should be setting ourselves up pretty nicely for the playoffs.”
Following this week, the Red Devils finish their regular season with four straight home games.
MEN’S SOCCER
The Allen Community College men’s soccer team suffered a loss in Chanute against Neosho County Community College, 6-1.
Allen keeper Sergio Echeverri made 10 saves, but the Panther onslaught was too much for the Red Devils to overcome.
Daniel Aviles scored the lone Red Devil goal.
VOLLEYBALL
The Red Devil volleyball team also spent their weekend in Chanute, but had a tough time in the Panther Invitational.
Allen went 0-2 on Friday, but were able to take a set off of both Coffeyville Community College and McCook Community College.
Saturday saw things get worse for Allen as they lost in straight sets to both Neosho County Community College and Highland Community College.
The Red Devils at back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Kansas City Kansas Community College.
