OMAHA, Neb. – For the third time in four seasons, Kansas State played an overtime match in the opening weekend. K-State and Omaha played to a scoreless draw on Sunday afternoon at Caniglia Field.
K-State is winless in 11 straight matches dating back to the 2018 season, including a six-match road winless stretch.
“The effort and the energy we had Friday night wasn’t there and we were a little zapped,” said K-State head coach Mike Dibbini about his team on Sunday. “I didn’t feel like we had it consistently today. We were a step too slow. I felt like our back five with our four backs and holding mid did a nice job playing out of the back and getting a shutout. That is a positive we can take away.”
Kansas State (0-1-1) led in total shots, 16-8, but only tallied a 4-3 edge in shots on goal. The Wildcats had a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks.
K-State and Omaha (0-1-1) were scoreless in the first half. K-State senior goalkeeper Emma Malsy pocketed a pair of saves, including a diving effort, in the first 45 minutes.
The Wildcats fended off a pair of early threats in the second half from Omaha. K-State then attacked for the final 20 minutes, but were unable to convert an attempt in regulation.
Five minutes into the first overtime session, K-State’s Brookelynn Entz played a ball into the 18-yard box to Christina Baxter. Baxter was unable to pull the trigger on a shot but crossed a ball into the middle of the 18-yard box. Entz was beaten to the ball by Omaha goalkeeper Kelly Lemke preventing the goal.
With two minutes remaining in the match, Entz crossed a ball and narrowly missed the head of Baxter on the left post.
K-State had a breakaway chance with 30 seconds to play, but Caylee Thornhill’s shot settled into Lemke’s arms.
In its first four seasons as a program, K-State has tallied a loss and a draw in three of the opening weekends.
“We need to regroup and understand that we have to put both ends together for us to be successful and build off it,” said Dibbini about the opening weekend results. “It is the first weekend, on the road. Tough environments on the road. We need to take these moments and learn from these moments and get better.”
Kansas State opens Buser Family Park on Thursday, as the Wildcats host Arkansas State at 7 p.m. The first 200 fans will receive free K-State Soccer thundersticks. For tickets, contact the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS or visit kstatesports.com/tickets.
Thursday’s match will also be K-State’s first athletic event broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The audio broadcast will also be available for free on kstatesports.com.
– kstatesports.com –