Oklahoma Tops Kansas Soccer, 2-1
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Despite Jessica Bush’s first goal of the season, Kansas fell to Oklahoma, 2-1, Sunday in a Big 12 soccer match at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. OU’s Allyson Kucera recorded a pair of second half goals, including the game-winner in the 83rd minute.
The Jayhawks fall to 3-9-3 overall and 1-2-2 in conference play, while the Sooners improve to 6-6-2 overall and 2-4 in the Big 12.
KU dominated the pace of the contest, outshooting the visiting Sooners 24-8 in the match, including 13-2 in the first half.
The Jayhawks had several opportunities to score in the first half, capitalizing on a defensive breakdown in the 37th minute.
After intercepting a clearing attempt 30 yards out, Bush dribbled to her left and blasted a shot to the far post which beat Oklahoma goalkeeper Tara Macdonald at 36:18. It was the junior’s first goal of the season to go along with four assists.
However, the lead was short-lived. In the 52nd minute, OU’s Lauren Harris took a free kick from 40 yards out and sent it to the middle of the box, where Kucera used her head to deflect the ball past senior goalkeeper Colleen Quinn to tie the match at one.
In the 83rd minute, Kucera struck again on a free kick, this time re-directing a Katie Corbitt pass into the net as OU defeated the Jayhawks for the first time since 2002.
Kansas outshined the visitors in nearly every phase of the game, except for the final score. The Jayhawks put 11 shots on net, compared to just five by OU and had 10 corner kicks to the Sooners’ two.
Bush and senior Nicole Cauzillo led the offense with five shots a piece, while sophomore Monica Dolinsky added four shots, including a pair which were stopped by the keeper.
After OU starting goalkeeper Tara Macdonald left the match in the first half with an injury, Jennifer Nichols took over and shut the Jayhawks out over the final 49:27. Nichols made a pair of spectacular saves in the second half, stabbing Dolinsky’s bicycle kick from eight yards out early in the half.
In the final minute, Nichols saved the Sooners again, deflecting an open shot by Bush off the crossbar and out of bounds.
Kansas will look to bounce back Friday when it travels to Boulder, Colo. for a Big 12 match with the Buffaloes at 4 p.m.
