Kansas Earns First Conference Victory with 1-0 Shutout at Cincinnati

Thursday, September 19

Cincinnati, Ohio

06:00 PM

University of Kansas

4-2-3, 1-1-0

Cincinnati

4-4-1, 0-2-0

Kansas

Cincinnati

Photo by: KeslarBates

Kansas Earns First Conference Victory with 1-0 Shutout at Cincinnati

9/19/2024 9:27:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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CINCINNATI – The Kansas Jayhawks picked up their first Big 12 victory of the season on Thursday night with a 1-0 win against Cincinnati at Gettler Stadium. The shutout was the third of the season and the conference win on the road was the first since 2021. A goal by junior Lexi Watts in the 53rd minute was the difference in the game.

"It is nice to get that first Big 12 win under our belts," head coach Nate Lie said. "It's certainly nice to do it on the road. Getting road points in conference is really difficult. We were coming off a loss (to Iowa State) that we were really disappointed in. We know we're better and we think we're better, but we have to prove it. We also have to figure out ways to score goals and win games."

Lie continued, "I thought the first half we were in a ton of control – I don't believe they had a shot or a corner. The game was dictated on our terms. The second half they came out and punched us in the mouth right away. I think they earned four corners in the first five minutes…Great job for Lexi finding that goal. She's had so many opportunities this year and we were hoping and thinking that the goal might come on more of a scrappy one…What we have been talking about is going through each experience good or bad. Thankfully we got a good one today and hopefully we still grow from it."

Kansas (4-2-3, 1-1-0 Big 12) controlled much of the possession on the attacking side of the field in the first half but did not have much to show for it. The Jayhawks and Bearcats went into halftime tied 0-0. KU had a 2-0 edge on shots going into the break.

The Jayhawks were able to break through in the 53rd minute. A bouncing ball in the middle of the box went off a couple Cincinnati defenders and found itself at the feet of Watts. She was able to get enough of the ball and chip it into the back of the net. That gave Kansas a 1-0 lead.

That goal would hold up the remainder of the contest. Redshirt freshman Sophie Dawe earned her third shutout of the season. Dawe made two saves in the match and played all 90 minutes.

The teams were even at 7-7 in shots and 2-2 for shots on target, but Kansas was the only team able to find the back of the net.

NOTES
• Kansas won its first conference game on the road since March 6, 2021 at Kansas State.
• Watts scored her second goal of the season and has scored in back-to-back matches. This is the first time in her career she has scored in consecutive matches.
• Dawe recorded her third shutout of the season.

UP NEXT
Kansas will head to Morgantown, West Virginia, to play the West Virginia Mountaineers on Sunday, Sept. 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.