TULSA, Oklahoma – Kansas State ended a long scoreless drought and won its first road match since October 6, 2017, at Kansas, with a 3-0 victory on Sunday at Tulsa. The Wildcats ended the regular season non-conference schedule with a 4-3-2 record.
K-State held possession for the first 20 minutes of the match and were rewarded with a goal. In the 20th minute, Megan Kalkofen intercepted a Tulsa pass from the back row and booted a pass deep into Golden Hurricane territory.
Brookelynn Entz raced past the defense to gather the ball. She took one touch and beat Tulsa goalkeeper Mica Mackay to the left post with her shot. The goal was the second of the season for Entz and the seventh of her career.
“We have been talking about (the long ball) in practice because the last few teams we have played have really tucked in on the defense,” said Entz about her scoring opportunity. “That has left me wide-open on the side hanging out. That was something we talked about in practice yesterday and Megan did a really good job of executing that ball in.”
K-State had been held without a goal for 301:37 of game action, with K-State’s last goal coming in the eighth minute against UMKC on September 7. It was the first road goal scored by the Wildcats since October 22, 2017, at Oklahoma.
The Wildcats ended the opening half with an 11-0 advantage in total shots, including a 4-0 edge in shots on goal. K-State also notched a 6-1 lead in corner kicks.
K-State increased its lead to two in the 64th minute. Entz won a duel for the ball near midfield and threaded a pass through the Tulsa defense.
Maddie Souder read the play and ran onto the ball without a defender marking her. Souder took a touch and beat the keeper with her shot to the right post for her first goal of the season and the third of her career.
The Wildcats added an insurance goal in the 72nd minute. Christina Baxter advanced a ball with a header to Tatum Wagner in front of the K-State bench. Wagner drove to the end line and crossed a ball in front of the Golden Hurricane goal.
Ashley Zane controlled the cross and calmly deposited the shot into the net. The tally was the first for Zane this season and the third of her career. Baxter and Wagner were credited with assists on the play.
K-State goalkeeper Emma Malsy wasn’t tested in the first half and finished with two saves on the afternoon. This was Malsy’s sixth shutout of the season and her third on the road. Malsy’s six shutouts are a new school record for shutouts in a season.
The Wildcats registered a 21-12 edge in total shots, including a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal. K-State finished with a season-high 11 corner kicks.
“It is only one game, but I am definitely happy they got the ‘W’ today; they deserved it, they worked hard,” said head coach Mike Dibbini. “We faced so many different types of opponents, mentality-wise was a challenge for us. It was good to end on a high-note heading into Big 12 play but scoring three goals from three different people.”
Kansas State will open its second season in the Big 12 with a two-match home stand. The Wildcats will host (20) Oklahoma State on Friday, September 21, at 7 p.m. Tickets for Friday’s match are available for $1 and can be purchased by contacting the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS or by visiting kstatesports.com/tickets.
Friday’s match will be broadcast on ESPN3 and for free at kstatesports.com.
– kstatesports.com –