Kansas Soccer Falls at Nebraska, 2-1 in Double OT

LINCOLN, Neb. – After jumping out to a 1-0 halftime lead, the 18th-ranked Kansas soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in two overtimes Friday evening at the NU Soccer Field. Corner kicks proved to be the demise of the Jayhawks as Nebraska took 10, nine of them coming in the second half.

Emily Cressy led Kansas with three shots on goal, but none of them resulted in goals for the Jayhawks.

The first half featured just 11 shots by each team, but in the 42nd minute KU broke the scoreless tie, getting on the board when Sara Rogers set up Kim Boyer for her second goal of the season to give the Jayhawks the 1-0 advantage.

Much like the opening 45 minutes, the second half was low scoring. The Jayhawks looked poised to tally a conference-opening victory as goalkeeper Julie Hanley made a couple of great saves to help KU cling to its 1-0 lead. In the 57th minute, Nebraska had another opportunity to even the score, but Carly Peetz’ shot hit the post, and the Jayhawks kept their advantage.

In the 70th minute, Nebraska had perhaps the most wide-open shot that either team would take in the game, but failed to take advantage. The Huskers’ Brittney Lanier got behind Hanley, but her shot sailed wide of the net. Her reaction told the story, as she stayed on the ground for a good minute.

In the end, however, KU gave Nebraska one too many good opportunities. In the 71st minute, the Huskers broke through with the equalizer as Shay Powell slipped the ball past Hanley and into the net to tie the score at 1-1.

The score stayed the same as the clock ran out on the second period, and the game went into overtime. KU and Nebraska fought through a scoreless 10 minutes of extra time, and moved on into the decisive second OT.

Six minutes and 10 seconds later, Nebraska ended the game with a Molly Thomas goal in the 107th minute to give the Huskers the 2-1 victory.

Hanley finished the game with six saves for the Jayhawks, who dropped to 6-3 on the season, 0-1 in Big 12 play. Nebraska improved to 5-4-1, 1-0 in the conference.

KU next heads to Ames, Iowa, to take on the Iowa State Cyclones on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CDT.