KU Soccer Defeats Missouri, 3-2, in Double OT
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Junior Holly Gault gave KU’s five seniors a treat on Senior Day when she scored her fourth goal of the season in double overtime to lift the Jayhawks past Missouri, 3-2, Friday afternoon at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. KU concludes its regular season 11-6-2 overall and 6-3-1 in the Big 12 and awaits its opponent for next week’s Big 12 Tournament.
In the 104th minute, senior Caroline Smith found Gault streaking down the right side of the field. The Spring Hill, Kan,. native took the pass and dribbled into the box before firing a left-footed shot past Missouri goalkeeper Laura Buehrig to give KU its fourth consecutive victory over the Tigers.
Caroline Smith got the Jayhawks on the board just 2:57 into the match when she scored her 50th goal of her career. The Edina, Minn., native was near the left post when fellow senior Jessica Smith fired a shot that Buehrig saved, the rebound caromed to Caroline Smith who tapped the ball in from close range.
Missouri’s explosive offensive duo of Amber Swinehart and Jennifer Nobis combined to score the matches next two goals. Swinehart struck first when she took a pass from Nobis and beat a diving Julie Hanley to her left to tally her 12th goal of the season.
Nobis gave MU a 2-1 lead just 41-seconds into the second half when she fired a shot that deflected of a KU defender and into the net. Swinehart was credited with an assist on Nobis’ seventh goal of the season.
Junior Michelle Rasmussen drilled a shot from 25-yards out to tie the match in the 57th-minute. Freshman Jessica Bush recorded the assist on Rasmussen’s fourth goal of the season.
Junior Lacey Novak almost sent the Jayhawks home with a regulation victory but her shot with 10-seconds left narrowly missed the net. Before that, MU looked to take the lead late in the second half with a goal that was over turned when a hand ball was called on the potential goal scorer.
Hanley recorded her seventh victory (7-1-0) in net for the Jayhawks. The reigning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week made five saves during the match.
The Jayhawks out-shot the Tigers, 30-13, in the contest including 11-3 in the first 45-minutes. Caroline Smith set a new school-record with 12 shots in the match, seven of those shots were on goal.
The Jayhawks will find out who they will face in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament shortly after the conclusion of Sunday’s Nebraska-Texas Tech. The Cornhuskers and Red Raiders will kick off at noon CT in Lubbock, Texas. KU will play on Wed., Nov. 2, at one of the following times: 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. The tournament will be held at Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio, Texas.
Game Notes: Before the match, KU honored its 2005 senior class of Nicole Braman, Erin Ferguson, Kimberly Karfonta, Caroline Smith and Jessica Smith … The Jayhawks 30 shots were the second most on the season (36 vs. Michigan on Aug. 26) … Jessica Bush added her sixth assist on the season which is two more assists than any other KU freshman has recorded in school history … The Jayhawks have yet to lose a Friday match this season and improve to 8-0-2.
