Big Second Half Lifts Kansas Past No. 20 Purdue, 3-0
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Freshman Emily Cressy had a goal and an assist, while senior Missy Geha and junior Kim Boyer also tallied goals in an explosive second half for the Kansas soccer team. The Jayhawks scored three times in a 28-minute span to down 20th-ranked Purdue, 3-0 in the season opener for both teams Friday at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
Kansas, which also scored three goals in its exhibition win, last week, improves to 1-0. The Boilermakers fall to 0-1.
The Jayhawks used the halftime break to regroup, and came out firing in the second half. Just eight minutes into the stanza, Geha gave the home team a 1-0 lead. Following a Shannon McCabe corner kick, freshman Kortney Clifton deflected the ball from the middle of the box to the far post where Geha slid to tap the ball in. It was the senior’s first goal since Oct. 14, 2005.
Just over 12 minutes later, KU took a 2-0 lead on a bizarre goal by Cressy. Following a long goal kick with the wind at her back, junior keeper Julie Hanley sent the ball over the Boilermakers’ last line of defense and found a streaking Cressy. The freshman flicked a shot inside the near post for her first collegiate goal.
Cressy then set up Boyer for KU’s final score. After another long pass played in, the 5-foot-5 forward set up Boyer from the near side of the box, resulting in a blast in from 15 yards out.
The three Kansas goals were more than the team scored in its first seven contests last season. The three-goal margin of victory was also the most since a 4-1 triumph over Texas Tech Oct. 3 of last season.
It was also KU’s second-straight home win over a ranked team, after downing then-No. 18 Missouri in the season finale at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex last season.
Much like the scoring, Kansas dominated the second half, outshooting the visiting Boilermakers, 9-3 in the second half. Junior Monica Dolinsky led the way with four shots, while Cressy and McCabe chipped in two a piece.
Hanley made two saves to post her first shutout since a 3-0 win over Texas Tech on Oct. 22, 2006.
KU improved to 6-2-2 in season-openers under Head Coach Mark Francis. The veteran head coach also moved to 6-3-1 in home openers at Kansas.
The Jayhawks will have nine days between games. KU won’t be in action again until an Aug. 31 home contest against Auburn at 1 p.m.
