Soccer Defeats Creighton to Move into NCAA Tournament Second Round

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After falling behind early in the game, the University of Kansas soccer team scored three unanswered goals to defeated Creighton, 3-1, at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship.

The Bluejays (9-8-4) drew first blood in the match, taking a 1-0 lead in the game’s eighth minute after sophomore midfielder Emily Munn fired a shot from 25-yards that eluded Kansas goalkeeper Meghan Miller.

The score would be the only tally allowed by Miller on the day, as she made three saves and shut Creighton out for the rest of the match.

No. 8 national seed Kansas (18-4-0) tied the match in the 18th minute as freshman defender Afton Sauer was able to convert her second goal of the year on a header off passes from sophomore Holly Gault and junior Caroline Smith.

Less that ten minutes before halftime, Kansas took its first lead of the day, as junior forward Jessica Smith took a pass from sophomore Jessica Kilpatrick and slipped in a one-on-one to beat Creigthon goalkeeper Valerie Zimmerer for her third goal of the season.

Senior Monica Brothers put the Jayhawks up 3-1 with an insurance goal at the 53:46 mark, as she took a pass from Caroline Smith and fired two shots at the diving goalkeeper, the second of which she fired into the net for her fourth goal of the year. The goal moved Brothers alone into third place on the all-time Kansas points list with 51 career points. The Leavenworth, Kan., native now trails only teammates Caroline Smith and senior Rachel Gilfillan on the list.

“We are obviously happy that we won, but I was disappointed in the first half,” said Kansas head coach Mark Francis. “I thought we came out a little flat and I think we had a lot of people who weren’t mentally in tune with what we needed to do. I felt like the second half was a lot better and I thought that our bench was a big key today. We had players coming off the bench that really contributed in a big way for us in establishing a rhythm and keeping possession of the ball.”

The victory marked the first come from behind win for the Jayhawks this season and tied 2003 team for the most wins in a season with 18.

Kansas will be back in action on Sunday as they face Big 12 rival Nebraska in the second round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.

Postgame Quotes
NCAA Women’s Soccer Division I First Round
Game 2 — Kansas 3, Creighton 1
Nov. 12, 2004

Creighton Head Coach Bruce Erickson
On the game:
“I am extremely proud of our team.In the last couple of weeks we have come out firing.To get an early goal against this team was certainly a priority for us. I thought we played a great 90 minutes.In my opinion, Kansas is the best team we have played.They are talented and there is no drop-off in terms of their depth and I thought they played well today.”

On scoring the first goal:
“To open the game we knew we had to get that first goal. I think being up 1-0, it was about getting the second goal. We couldn’t just sit back and absorb it, we had to go after it.When we got in at halftime, we felt like the next goal was huge. We knew this was not going to be a one-goal type of game.There were going to be a couple of goals scored and we wanted to strive for that next goal.” 

Creighton Sophomore Defender Emily Munn
On her goal:
“It was a great pass from my teammate (Katie Heitke).She did a great touch pass and I called for it. Basically I just hit it into the top right-hand corner of the net with my right foot.”

Kansas Head Coach Mark Francis
On the game:
“We are obviously happy that we won, but I was disappointed in the first half. I thought we came out a little flat and I think we had a lot of people who weren’t mentally in tune with what we needed to do.I felt like the second half was a lot better and I thought that our bench was a big key today. We had players coming off the bench that really contributed in a big way for us in establishing a rhythm and keeping possession of the ball.”

On playing Nebraska:
“The last time we played Nebraska, they scored in 50 seconds and we lost 1-0.If we come out flat on Sunday, we could be in for a long day.We have to come out focused and ready to play.When you are playing for a spot in the Sweet 16, there is no reason that you shouldn’t be focused.I think we are confident, but Nebraska is always a tough team to play against.We saw that when we played against them the first time.We don’t lose too many games here at home and we lost one here against them.We have to make sure that we are focused right from the beginning of the game because we didn’t do that last time we played them. They are a tough opponent though.”

On Kansas’ bench: 
“A lot of the changes we made early in the second half we because people weren’t playing well. We have a lot of good players.I said to my assistant when they did the lineups before the game that we have some pretty good players here on our bench. Ironically, those players ended up being the difference in the game today for us.”

Kansas Senior Forward Monica Brothers
On her goal:
“On my goal, it was just a great cross from Caroline (Smith) and I should have finished it the first time.I stayed composed and just put it away.”

Kansas Senior Goalkeeper Meghan Miller
On allowing an earlygoal:
“I was mad that they scored so early in the game, but I wasn’t too worried. I was more mad at myself because I hate getting scored on. I would have liked to finish the game 3-0, but they (Creighton) put in a good shot and I have to give them credit for that. Hopefully Sunday I can do a better job of keeping them out of the net.”

On playing Nebraska:
“I don’t think that the pressure is ever off because this is the NCAA Tournament and if we lose one, we are done. I am not ready to be done. We just need to go out there and realize that today could be our last day.”