Butler Community College blanks Cape Fear in Pool B opener

The Butler Community College Grizzlies played like themselves Monday afternoon.

And when you’re the No. 2 seed in the NJCAA women’s soccer tournament … that’s a good thing.

Colleen Howland scored five minutes into the game and the Grizzlies got second-half goals from Taylor Spencer and Lauren Allan as they dispatched No. 11 Cape Fear 3-0 in the opening round of pool play at Eastern Florida State College.

“I thought our kids played really well,” Butler coach Adam Hunter said. “I thought we were definitely the aggressor from the first whistle all the way through the first half.

“… We looked like ourself today, to be honest.”

Howland, a sophomore got things started for Butler in a big way when she was able to take a pass from Sam Simmons and head it in over a charging goalkeeper.

“I just had to get whatever I could on it and try to flick it towards the goal,” Howland said.

Cape Fear, which is making its first-ever appearance in the NJCAA tournament, had a golden opportunity to tie things up with just over 10 minutes left in the first half, but could not finish.

Butler (21-2-0), which missed several scoring chances of its own, finally broke through with just over 16 minutes to play on a beautiful goal by Spencer, who drilled the ball into the goal from over 20 yards out on an assist from Katie Hartman. The third goal came eight minutes later when Allan found the net on an assist from Lexi Clark.

Those last two goals provided a big sense of relief for Butler, which was hoping to draw Cape Fear out of its defensive style of play and open up the game.

“It felt very good (to get those two goals) because 1-0 is really close,” Howland said. “It’s really critical to get other goals.”

Despite the loss, Cape Fear coach Ryan Deppa was pleased with the way the Sea Devils (17-2-0) handled themselves against one of the top-ranked teams in the nation.

“We played a really good team,” Deppa said. “We knew that going in. Honestly, we did exactly what we wanted to. We missed an opportunity or two and they capitalized on the counter.

“That second goal was a pretty great goal. We obviously don’t like to lose, but we lost to a good team and we respect them very much.”

The Sea Devils will return to action Tuesday when they face No. 7 Monroe at 12:30 p.m.

Butler’s next game will come on Wednesday, when the Grizzlies will also face Monroe at 12:30 p.m. and continue on what they hope will be their best NJCAA tournament yet.

“We’ve improved throughout the year and I think we just want to take it all, prove to everyone that we can do it,” Howland said. “Butler’s never won it. This could be the year.”