24th-Ranked KU Blows by UC Irvine, 4-0
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Four different Jayhawks scored goals to lead the 24th-ranked University of Kansas soccer team past UC Irvine, 4-0, on Friday at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. KU (4-2-1) will travel to Purdue on Sunday for a 1 p.m. match against the Boilermakers.
The Jayhawk defense held the Anteaters to seven shots during the match. Freshman goalkeeper Julie Hanley made four saves to record the shutout in her first career start.
Freshmen Missy Geha and Jessica Bush each scored a goal to give KU a two goal first half lead. After UCI’s goalkeeper punched a corner kick out of the penalty box, Geha gathered the ball and fired from 15-yards out to score KU’s first tally just 7:06 into the match.
In the 35th-minute, Kimberly Karfonta dribbled down the right flank and found a streaking Caroline Smith. Smith controlled the ball over to Bush who beat UCI’s goalkeeper from eight yards out. The goal was Bush’s third of the season.
In the 62nd-minute, Caroline Smith was awarded a penalty kick after being fouled hard in the penalty box. KU’s all-time leading scorer calmly buried her kick into the bottom left corner of the net for her fourth goal of the season and 46th of her career.
Sophomore Emily Strinden tallied her first career goal with a blast in the 75th minute. Karfonta was credited with the assist, her second of the match and a new career-high.
As a team, KU out-shot UCI 19-7. Caroline Smith led the charge with nine shots, five on net.
“We had four different players score which was good,” commented head coach Mark Francis. “The team played O.K. We are still up and down as far as our level of performance from game-to-game, but we are getting there.”
Match Notes: Julie Hanley and Kristin Graves made their first career starts … KU used a different lineup for the first time all season … Caroline Smith tallied her 18th career assist, moving her alone into second place all-time, she is one assist shot of tying Hilla Rantala’s record of 19 … KU’s four goals were a season best … The Jayhawks have recorded four shutouts this season … Kansas is 2-1-0 against teams from California this year … KU has not allowed a goal at the Jayhawk soccer complex this season, out-scoring their opponents 7-0 in three matches … Geha’s game-winner was her second of the season … KU is now 2-0-0 all-time against UC-Irvine … The Jayhawks are now 3-0-1 on Friday’s this season … KU opens Big 12 play next Friday at Baylor.
For more post-match comments from Mark Francis, call the Kansas Soccer Hotline at (785) 864-7700.
