⚽️ Kansas Takes Down K-State 2-1 on Senior Night in Dillon’s Sunflower Showdown

LAWRENCE, Kan. – On senior night at Rock Chalk Park, Kansas defeated the Kansas State Wildcats 2-1 in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown. Junior Raena Childers and freshman Jocelyn Herrema both scored goals in the match to lift the Jayhawks to a win over their in-state foe.

Childers’ goal in the 10th minute of the match was her third of the season, while Herrema scored her first career goal and the game-winning goal in the 76th minute in the team’s final game of the season.

“I was just really happy for the group with the way they were so resilient this year,” Head Coach Mark Francis said. “Regardless of the result, the next game they came out and competed. We were in every game we played in this year. I’m super proud of the resilience of the group and the way they were able to bounce back game after game.”

Less than 10 minutes into the match, junior Raena Childers scored her third goal of the season to give Kansas an early lead. Senior Mackenzie Boeve made a pass to fellow senior Shira Elinav in the box who dropped it off to Childers who slid in with her right foot and rocketed the ball into the left corner of the net. The assist was good for the first of Boeve’s career.

Kansas controlled the first half as the Jayhawks outshot the Wildcats 9-3, including 3-0 for shots on goal. KU held a 1-0 lead at the break.

Kansas added a goal in the second half as Herrema scored her first career goal to extend the Jayhawks lead to 2-0. Herrema was able to battle a K-State defender in the box to get the ball and put it in the left corner of the net.

K-State (3-12-3, 1-8-1) added a goal in the 90th minute to cut the score to 2-1, but Kansas held on for the victory in the season finale.

Kansas finished the game with an 18-9 edge on shots in the match and 9-2 for shots on goal. Redshirt freshman Mackenzie Hammontree recorded a new career high in shots, and super-senior goalkeeper Melania Pasar ended her career on a high note as she did not surrender a goal in 89 minutes of game action.

Kansas finished the season with an overall record of 4-8-6 and 1-7-2 in conference action.