Kansas Drops Big 12 Opener to Iowa State 1-0

Thursday, September 12

Lawrence, Kan.

06:00 PM

University of Kansas

2-2-3, 0-1-0

Iowa State

3-3-2, 1-0-0

Iowa St.

Kansas

Kansas Drops Big 12 Opener to Iowa State 1-0

9/12/2024 9:07:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawks dropped their conference opener to the Iowa State Cyclones at Rock Chalk Park on Thursday evening by a score of 1-0. Iowa State's goal in the 85th minute off the foot of Sophia Thomas was the deciding factor in the match.

"Tough one there," head coach Nate Lie. "A 1-0 loss in the last five to six minutes. A shot with a side of the foot in the middle of the goal that floated in somehow. It's another game that we created the way clearer chances and for whatever reason we're not capitalizing. That falls first and foremost on us as a staff, so that we can make sure that the players are able to capitalize on those moments. I thought we played a better second half after playing a really, really disappointing first half, especially as it relates to a Big 12 game at home coming off our first and only bye so far this year. So again, the responsibility falls on me first. But this wasn't good enough tonight."

It was a back-and-forth first half as each team had just two shots apiece and kept the majority of the possession between the 18-yard boxes. Kansas had one solid scoring opportunity in the first half as junior Lexi Watts sent a shot on target from the right edge of the box in the 36th minute, but it was saved by the goalkeeper. The game was tied 0-0 going into the break.

The Jayhawks had a collection of quality chances in the second half, with three of their six shots on goal. Despite outshooting the Cyclones 6-2 in the half, Kansas could not find the back of the net.

In the 85th minute, an attempted clearance by Kansas found Thomas at the edge of the 18-yard box. Thomas floated the ball over Kansas goalkeeper Sophie Dawe for the lone goal of the match.

Kansas held an 8-4 edge on shots, including 4-1 in shots on target. The Jayhawks also led 6-0 in corner kicks.

Iowa State improved to 3-3-2 on the season and 1-0 in Big 12 play, while Kansas fell to 2-2-3 on the year and 0-1 in conference action.

Notes
• Kansas committed 24 fouls in the match, which was one short of the program record (25 vs. Oklahoma State on Oct. 9, 1998).
• Kansas is now 10-16-3 all-time in conference openers and 8-7-0 at home in those matches (2-4-0 at Rock Chalk Park).
• Kansas dropped to 21-8-2 all-time against Iowa State and 11-2-1 at home. This was the second time Kansas and Iowa State have played in the conference opener, following 2013 when Kansas and Iowa State played to a 0-0 draw in Ames, Iowa, on Oct. 4, 2013.
• Kansas has played a scoreless first half in each of the last four matches.

UP NEXT
Kansas will host Friends University on Sunday afternoon at Rock Chalk Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+.