Second Half Goals Lift Kansas past Texas Tech, 2-0
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Junior Monica Dolinsky and freshman Emily Cressy recorded goals, while the Kansas defense held visiting Texas Tech to just four shots as the Jayhawks blanked the Red Raiders, 2-0 in a Big 12 soccer match at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex Friday afternoon.
Kansas improves to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in the league, while Tech falls to 6-4-1 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 play.
Despite outshooting the visitors, 17-4 in the match, KU couldn’t break through the Red Raider defense until midway through the second half.
After being stopped on a penalty kick in the first half, Dolinsky redeemed herself by burying a shot from 16 yards out in the 72nd minute. Sophomore Lauren Jackson played a ball into the middle of the field, where Dolinsky drove a ground ball shot into the far corner of the goal to give KU a 1-0 lead. It was the junior’s team-leading sixth goal of the season, matching her career high.
Not to be outdone, Cressy scored her sixth of the season just 13 minutes later. Junior Shannon McCabe sent a cross into the box in the 85th minute that Cressy got a foot on and deflected off a Tech defender and past a diving Tina Rincon for a 2-0 advantage. Of Cressy’s six goals this season, three of them have come in the final 10 minutes of regulation.
KU’s defense put on a clinic throughout the match. Tech’s only real threat came in the 76th minute when the Red Raiders took back-to-back corner kicks. Tech forward Brittney Harrison got a good shot on a ball that was knocked away by a Kansas field player, while Maegan Wilber’s ensuing shot on the rebound was blocked at the top of the box and cleared.
Julie Hanley earned her third shutout of the season, and first since a 1-0 effort at SMU on Sept. 7.
Kansas outshot the Red Raiders, 17-4, with Cressy and Dolinsky leading the charge with four each. Tech’s Rincon made six saves to keep her team within striking distance.
The Jayhawks will host to No. 15 Colorado Sunday at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. Kick off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
