Caniglia's Hat Trick Powers Nebraska Past Kansas, 7-4
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Despite three second half goals by three different Jayhawks, Kansas could not overcome a seven-point match by Nebraska senior Anna Caniglia, who scored three goals and added an assist in the Huskers’ 7-4 triumph over KU Friday afternoon at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
The Jayhawks fall to 10-7-1 overall, and 2-6 in the Big 12, while Nebraska improves to 10-3-4 overall and 4-2-2 in conference play.
The teams traded goals back-and-forth in the second half in what is the highest scoring contest in Kansas soccer history, and was the second-most combined goals in a Big 12 soccer match, one behind a 10-2 Nebraska win over Colorado in 1996.
The Huskers built an early 3-0 in the first half on a mishit cross, a perfectly placed shot from outside the near corner of the box and another long shot from outside the box in the first 33 minutes.
KU, however, fought back as senior Monica Dolinsky scored on a free kick just before halftime to cut the lead to 3-1. Dolinsky bent a perfect shot into the near upper corner of the net in the 43rd minute.
The Jayhawks cut the lead to 3-2 early in the second half as Caitlin Noble scored her fourth goal of the year on a rebound off a Whitney Berry shot early in the second half. All four of the junior’s goals have come in Big 12 matches.
However, that was as close as KU could come. The Huskers scored back-to-back goals by Caniglia and Michaella Fulmer to stretch the lead to 5-2 midway through the second half.
Kansas cut the deficit to two again in the 72nd minute, as Estelle Johnson finished a Dolinsky corner kick to the far post. The play came just minutes after Johnson fired wide on another Dolinsky corner.
However, every Jayhawk rally seemed to have an answer by Nebraska as Caniglia set up Carly Peetz for a goal on a set piece in 76th minute, and then completed the hatrick with a shot that hit the far post and bounced in on a break away.
Caniglia’s seven points Friday were the most by an opposing player against the Jayhawks.
KU sophomore Emily Cressy rounded out the scoring with a spinning shot in the 90th minute off a feed from Berry.
Nebraska outshot the Jayhawks by a 21-18 margin and held a slight 8-7 edge in corner kicks.
Kansas will look to bounce back against Iowa State Sunday at 1 p.m.
