MANHATTAN – Kansas State registered a solid defensive effort for 72 minutes on Friday night at the K-State Soccer Complex, but Texas Tech top two goal scorers registered tallies just two minutes apart to send the Red Raiders to a 2-0 win.
The Wildcats have now dropped five straight matches and have been held scoreless in the last four matches.
Kansas State and Texas Tech were scoreless in the first 45 minutes. The Wildcats held a 4-3 edge in shots on goal in the opening half.
K-State’s best chance in the first stanza came in the 39th minute. Christina Baxter crossed a ball from the left side of the field. Ashley Zane charged in to gather the pass and fired a shot from 12 yards, but it was stopped by Texas Tech goalkeeper Marissa Zucchetto.
Texas Tech’s best opportunity in the opening half came with under a minute to play following a direct kick from 20 yards. Brooke Denesik took the initial shot on the direct kick, which Emma Malsy made a diving save on. A scrum then ensued in front of the net. Malsy then stopped Carly Wickenheiser’s shot, before Denesik fired a shot wide to keep the match scoreless.
During a halftime ceremony, Kansas State Athletics representatives, the Buser family and K-State head coach Mike Dibbini broke ground for Buser Family Park. The new facility will be located on the current site of the temporary bleachers and will be ready for the start of the 2019 season. The new facility will feature 1,400 chairback seats, locker rooms, sports medicine and coaching staff offices.
K-State’s solid defense continued into the first 28 minutes of the second half, as the Wildcats kept the Red Raiders off the scoreboard. In the 73rd minute of the second half, Texas Tech took advantage of a K-State turnover and notched the first goal of the match. Kirsten Davis took possession and drove on the right side of the field. Davis then uncorked her shot from 17 yards into the left side of the net. The goal was the fourth of the season for Davis.
Moments later, K-State cleared a Texas Tech corner kick from inside the 18-yard box. However, the clearance went directly to Jade King who sent her shot back into the fray in front of the K-State net finding the back of the frame to give Texas Tech a 2-0 lead. The goal the seventh of the seven for King.
Texas Tech ended the night with a 14-9 lead in total shots, but shots on goal were tied at six each. The Red Raiders led in corner kicks, 5-3.
K-State will end its 2018 home schedule on Sunday against TCU. Match time is 12:30 p.m. Before Sunday’s match, Kansas State will honor its six seniors: Morgan Egan, Krista Haddock, Megan Kalkofen, Morgan Mauck, Haley Sutter and Tatum Wagner.
Sunday’s match will be available on ESPN3 and for free at kstatesports.com.
– kstatesports.com –