March 28, 2024

Buffs soccer earns home playoff game; shuts out Liberal

Garden City, Kan (westernkansasnews.com)-When the Lady Buffaloes kicked off their match with conference-rival Liberal on Tuesday, Head Coach Joaquin Padilla’s girls were playing their seventh match in nine days. But apparently that type of stretch is no problem for this team. 

Maria Rodriguez scored two goals on penalty kicks, and the defense held the Redskins to just three shots on goal in a 3-0 win at Buffalo Stadium. 

“Might as well play tomorrow,” Padilla said in reference to the seven games in nine days. “We’ve got it going now.”

His team struck quickly when Rodriguez converted a penalty kick following a handball penalty in the third minute. 

The score stayed that way until Rodriguez netted another score on a penalty kick in the 64th minute. Then Cecilia Alvarez put the game away with a goal in the 71st minute. 

The victory ensures Garden City of a home playoff game on Monday. Time and opponent still haven’t been determined.