Soccer Cruises Past South Dakota State, 4-1

March 31, 2012

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Junior Whitney Berry scored two goals and tallied an assist as the University of Kansas soccer team defeated South Dakota State 4-1 Saturday afternoon at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. With the win, KU improved to 3-0 on the spring season.

Berry got Kansas on the board first scoring on a penalty kick to give the Jayhawks a 1-0 lead at halftime. Shortly after the break, the Jackrabbits knotted the score on a free kick that snuck by goalkeeper Kat Liebetrau. Liebetrau played all 90 minutes between the posts for Kansas to earn the victory.

Freshman Ingrid Vidal soon gave KU back the lead that it would hold for good. Berry played a ball through the defense to a charging Vidal. Vidal then chipped a shot over the SDSU goalie’s head to put the home team up 2-1.

Junior Sarah Robbins later sent a pass to sophomore Caroline Kastor, who then found the back of the net pushing the Jayhawks’ advantage to 3-1. Kastor owns five goals in three games so far this spring.

Berry rounded out the Kansas win with a long goal from about 25 yards out to finish the contest with five points.

“I thought we played well,” said head coach Mark Francis. “We did a good job defensively and put a lot of pressure on the ball. In the second half I thought we moved the ball well and played quick.”

KU’s spring season continues when the team travels to Iowa City, Iowa for a pair of games on Sunday, April 15. The Jayhawks face host Iowa at 11 a.m. followed by a game against Minnesota at 3 p.m.