Clifton's Two Goals Lift KU over Missouri State, 2-0

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kortney Clifton caught fire Sunday afternoon, scoring two goals against Missouri State to lead Kansas soccer to a 2-0 win over the Bears (4-4-1), in the final match of the 2010 non-conference slate.

Clifton found the net in the first and second periods for KU (4-4), connecting on two of three shots on-goal. Clifton totaled four shots on the day in a balanced Jayhawk offense that outshot Missouri State 23-4. The goals were Clifton’s first two this season and the forward is also the first Jayhawk to have a multi-goal match in 2010.

Whitney Berry assisted on Clifton’s second goal, giving her a team-high three assists this season.

“I thought we defended well, I thought we competed well, I thought we did a good job of maintaining possession,” said head coach Mark Francis. “We did a good job of being patient with the ball and not forcing it. The kids did a good job of executing the game plan today.”

The Jayhawks dominated their opponent. KU tallied a season-high 12 corner kicks and was one shy of matching the season-high in shots. Berry had a match-high five shots with two on goal. Jordyn Perdue finished with three shots, two on target, and nearly headed in a goal in the second half.

Kat Liebetrau collected four saves while registering the shutout. It was the third shutout for the keeper this season and raised her save percentage to .836 and her Big 12-leading save total to 51.

Wasting no time, Clifton scored on the very first shot of the match in the 8th minute when she forced a turnover 40 yards back and dribbled it in for the goal.

KU immediately took the momentum and ran with it, getting off six more shots in the first period while not allowing even one by Missouri State.

MSU’s Katelyn Frederickson and Brooke Williams tried to tie the match up early in the second period but Liebetrau batted Frederickson’s shot away and solidly caught the shot from Williams.

But Clifton pushed the match out of reach of the visitors just a few minutes later, when she dribbled in a pass from Berry in the 60th minute.

“I was excited for Kortney. Kortney played really well today, and I’m not just saying that because she scored two goals.” Francis said. “She made a lot of things happen and I think defensively, too, she battled really hard.”

KU will now open conference play, starting on the road with Missouri and Iowa State next weekend. Kansas will take on Missouri in Columbia, Friday, Sept. 24, before heading up to Ames, Iowa for a meeting with the Cyclones next Sunday.