Soccer Falls 5-0 Despite Liebetrau's 15 Saves

ATHENS, Ga. – Goalkeeper Kat Liebetrau set a new career-high with 15 saves Sunday in Athens, Ga., but Georgia’s high-powered offense proved too much to overcome as the Jayhawks (1-1) fell 5-0 to the Bulldogs (2-1).

The sophomore goalkeeper — who set a previous career-high of nine saves last season against Texas Tech — collected 10 saves just in the second half. Liebetrau (1-1) was just a single save shy of matching Betsy Pollard’s KU school record of 16, set in October of 1999.

KU had just three shots, all on goal. Whitney Berry led the Jayhawks’ offense with two shots and Kaitlyn Cunningham had one.

It was evident early on that the game would be a battle between Georgia’s offense and KU’s defense. Liebetrau and the defense absolutely shined as the Bulldogs launched an all out attack, pounding the Jayhawks with shots from the start. KU defenders Geneva Magness and Caitlin Noble made several dynamic plays to go along with Liebetrau’s strong work in goal.

But the Bulldogs began to wear KU’s defense out, and UGA was able to break through in the 21st minute when Ashley Miller picked up a deflected shot and crossed it into the right corner to put UGA on the board.
The `Dogs got past Liebetrau again 15 minutes later as Susaannah Dennis volleyed in a loose ball, giving Georgia the two-goal advantage.

A foul in the last minute of the first period gave KU its best opportunity of the half. Berry took a free kick 30 yards out but the kick was deflected off a defender and rolled right to the UGA keeper.

Kansas again struggled with getting the ball on the Georgia side of the field in the second period. Despite Liebetrau’s outstanding 10-save performance, the Bulldogs took advantage of their first-period momentum, scoring three more.

The Jayhawks will now play four more on the road, starting next weekend in the Chicago-area. KU will square off against Northwestern Friday night before facing Illinois State, and former goalkeeper Julie Hanley, now an assistant coach for the Red Birds, next Sunday.