Rogers, Cauzillo Power Kansas Past Nebraska, 3-1

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Junior Sara Rogers scored a pair of goals, while senior Nicole Cauzillo tallied a goal and an assist as the Kansas soccer team posted a 3-1 triumph over Nebraska, Friday afternoon at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.

The win moves KU to 5-9-4 overall and 3-2-3 in the Big 12, while the Huskers fall to 5-9-3 and 1-7 in league play. For the moment, the Jayhawks sit in fifth-place in the conference standings with two contests remaining on their schedule.

On Friday, Rogers provided much of the offense, scoring KU’s first and third goals of the afternoon. It was the junior’s first career multi-goal match and just the second by a Jayhawk this season.

“I thought we played well this afternoon,” Kansas head coach Mark Francis said. “We did a good job of creating some chances and Sara (Rogers) stepped up and finished a couple of them. It was a good all-around performance that can hopefully give us some confidence heading into Sunday.”

Shortly after the junior forwarded entered the match as a substitute, she gave the home team a first half lead. Cauzillo started the play, sending a pass up to sophomore Kim Boyer, who passed the ball ahead to Rogers, who beat the keeper one-on-one. It was Rogers’ first goal of the season and second career tally against a Big 12 opponent.

Early in the second half, KU took a 2-0 lead on a long shot by Cauzillo. The senior midfielder bent a perfect shot into the far corner of the net from nearly 35 yards away at 60:18. It was Cauzillo’s team-leading fifth goal and 13th point of the season.

Not to be outdone, Rogers recorded her second goal of the match five minutes later. After junior Jessica Bush played a ball to sophomore Monica Dolinsky at the top of the box, the sophomore found Rogers open on the far side. Rogers blasted a shot from 20 yards away and beat the keeper to the far post to give the Jayhawks a 3-0 lead.

Nebraska got on the board late in the match as sophomore Savannah Allen finished a corner kick that was misplayed by the Kansas defense deep in the box. The goal ended a streak of over 294 minutes which the Jayhawks had gone since allowing a goal.

It was the only mistake made by reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week Colleen Quinn, who made 10 saves in the match.

Nebraska outshot the Jayhawks 22-10; however several of those shots were from 30 yards or more out from the net. Three Jayhawks, Rogers, Cauzillo and Bush recorded two shots a piece as KU put 60 percent (6-for-10) of its shots on net.

Kansas can clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championships Sunday with a win over Iowa State. The Jayhawks and Cyclones will meet at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex at 1 p.m.

Game Notes
Sara Rogers has scored four goals in her career with all them coming at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.

Friday’s win over Nebraska was KU’s first over the Huskers in Lawrence. KU is 3-12-2 all-time against NU with the other two victories in the series coming in Lincoln.

Kansas has scored 14 goals in the month of October (2.0 per game), compared to just six (0.6 per game) in September. The Jayhawks have also outscored its opposition 14-7 in the month.