Kansas Strikes Late to Defeat Utah 2-0 Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, October 26

Salt Lake City, Utah

2 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

12-3-3, 6-3-1

Utah

7-9-3, 2-6-2

Kansas

Utah

Kansas Strikes Late to Defeat Utah 2-0 Sunday Afternoon

10/26/2025 5:48:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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SALT LAKE CITY – Kansas soccer clinched its spot in the Big 12 Tournament as the Jayhawks scored two late goals to defeat Utah 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at Ute Field. Livvy Moore scored on a penalty kick and Lexi Watts added another goal in the shutout win.

Kansas improved to 12-3-3 (6-3-1 in Big 12 play) on the season and the Jayhawks are now 6-1-1 on the road. The 12 regular season victories are the most since 2019 and the six Big 12 wins match last season's total.

"Coming out of a five-day road trip in Utah with six points is a testament to this team, their character, their resolve, their grit," Kansas head coach Nate Lie said. "It's been a long season. We've had ups and downs, but it seems to be coming together in a lot of different ways. We came off a pretty emotionally charged game on Thursday where we emptied the tank, and we asked the team to try to find a way to do it a second time."

Lie continued, "The defense came up big in the few big moments that Utah broke, and they had some scary looking breaks. We started grinding away with early set pieces and corners, which usually in games like this when people are getting tired, they lead to something. Livvy (Moore) is very brave for stepping up to that penalty, and she buried it with class. I think after that, the team got comfortable and started making sense of what we were doing. And Lexi (Watts) just made a big play. She made personality play and it essentially ended the game with a brilliant individual effort. We're looking forward to getting home. I'm very proud of this group and proud of how far we've come."

The defense for Kansas shined in the first half, letting up only two shots and none on goal. KU was able to get some chances in the first, but couldn't put the ball in the net, which led to a 0-0 halftime score. The Jayhawks outshot the Utes 4-2 and held a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks.

In the 75th minute, Marit McLaughlin took a shot in the box, which was blocked by a Utah defenders' elbow, which granted Kansas a penalty kick. Moore stepped up and delivered a strike towards the right side of the net to score the PK, which gave the Jayhawks a 1-0 lead.

The Jayhawks didn't stop after that, as Caroline Castans kicked the ball into the left corner of the box to Watts, who dribbled around a Utah defender and took a shot over the goalkeeper to increase the Jayhawks lead to 2-0 in the 83rd minute.

Utah (7-9-3, 2-6-2 Big 12) tried to answer back in the closing minutes, but the back line of Kansas did not allow an opportunity to close out a 2-0 shutout win.

KU outshot the Utes 11-2 in the second half and 15-4 overall. The Jayhawks also held a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks.

NOTES
• Kansas is now 12-3-3 on the season and 6-3-1 in conference play.
• Kansas has its first 12-win regular season since 2019.
• Kansas has back-to-back seasons with at least six conference wins for the first time since 2005-06.
• Kansas moved to 6-1-1 on the road this season. The Jayhawks are 16-4-2 in two seasons under Nate Lie in games played away from Lawrence.
• Kansas recorded its sixth shutout of the season.
• Kansas has won three straight Big 12 games.
• Kansas outshot Utah 15-4, and allowed only one shot on goal.
• Kansas held a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks. It is the fifth time this season that Kansas has held an opponent to zero corner kicks.
• Kansas leads the all-time series over Utah 3-2-0.
• Moore scored her fourth goal of the season.
• Watts scored her team-leading ninth goal of the season, and the 26th of her career.
• Dawe recorded her fifth shutout of the season, and the 13th of her career.

UP NEXT
Kansas will return home for Senior Night to close out the regular season against Colorado on Thursday, Oct. 30. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m. CT, and will be broadcast on ESPN+.