Jayhawks Shut Down Red Raiders, 4-0

LUBBOCK, Texas – The University of Kansas soccer team defeated Texas Tech, 4-0, Friday night in Lubbock, Texas. KU improves its record to 8-5-2 and 4-2-1 in the Big 12.

“We scored four very good goals and finished our chances extremely well,” commented head coach Mark Francis. “A lot of people were able to get in the game and contribute today.”

Afton Sauer and Nicole Braman set up the Jayhawks first goal in the 17th-minute of the match. The sophomore defender recorded her first career assist when she sent a long pass from KU’s defensive zone to near the box. Braman flicked the ball over to Smith who dribbled into the box and placed a shot into the top left corner of the net for her team-high seventh goal.

Holly Gault rippled the net to from 20 yards out to give KU a 2-0 lead. Lacey Novak and Lufkin, Texas, native Emily Strinden assisted on Gualt’s third goal of the season.

Senior Kimberly Karfonta scored before the end of the half when she beat Texas Tech’s goalkeeper, Megan Knauss, from just outside the box. Sauer was credited with her second assist of the match.

Freshman Missy Geha scored KU’s final goal with 5:44 left in the match. Fellow freshman Sara Rogers was awarded the assist, her first career point as a Jayhawk.

Geha preserved the shutout when she cleared a Texas Tech corner kick that was about to cross the goal line with 15 seconds remaining in the match.

Freshman Julie Hanley and senior Erin Ferguson combined to shut out the Red Raiders. Hanley started the match and recorded three saves. The Indianapolis, Ind., native improved her record to 4-0-0. Ferguson played the final 30:02 and made three saves.

Kansas forced Knauss to make a career-high 12 saves. For the match, KU out-shot Texas Tech, 26-15.

The Jayhawks will stay on the road to face Colorado in Boulder on Sunday. Kick off is scheduled for 2 p.m. central time.

Match Notes: Kimberly Karfonta’s two career goals have come against the Red Raiders … Karfonta celebrated her goal with a back flip … Afton Sauer’s two assists were the first two of her career … Caroline Smith’s goal was the 49th of her career … KU scored three first half goals for the second time this season … The Jayhawks improved to 7-0-0 when they lead at halftime … KU is 6-0-1 on Friday’s this season … KU is 2-0-0 in night matches this season …