Kansas Advances to Second Round of NCAA Tournament with 3-1 Victory Over California Baptist

Friday, November 14

Lawrence, Kan.

6 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

15-5-3, 6-4-1

California Baptist

10-9-4, 6-3-1

California Baptist

Kansas

Kansas Advances to Second Round of NCAA Tournament with 3-1 Victory Over California Baptist

11/14/2025 9:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – For the first time since 2019, No. 3-seeded Kansas soccer will play in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after taking down California Baptist 3-1 in the first round at Rock Chalk Park on Friday night. Kansas had a strong first half where it scored three goals from Saige Wimes, Jillian Gregorski and Faith Johnston in front of a school-record 2,613 fans.

Kansas has advanced to the second round for the seventh time in program history. The three first half goals were the most goals in any half of an NCAA Tournament match in program history. Kansas moved to 9-10-0 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with the victory.

"I first would like to thank the Jayhawk community for supporting us this evening," Kansas head coach Nate Lie. "It was an all-time record crowd, over 2,600 people. The crowd made it feel like the occasion that this game was. It felt truly special."

Lie continued, "One thing we did very well tonight was get off on the front foot. We stressed all week just to come out fast and to score goals early. Saige did just that with a tough header to the far post. It was a great service by Caroline (Castans) on that goal and then another great service by her on Jill's goal. It wasn't perfect, but we saw out the game for the most part on the front foot, which I appreciate, and we're very excited and blessed to be moving on to the next round."

Kansas got on the board quickly in the fourth minute, when Olivia Page tapped the ball to Caroline Castans, who crossed the ball into the box to Wimes where she got her head on the ball and directed it into the net to take a 1-0 lead. The goal in the fourth minute was the second fastest goal scored by Kansas in an NCAA Tournament match.

In the 25th minute, Lexi Watts passed the ball to Castans who crossed the ball to Gregorski, for a strike into the back of the net to give Kansas a 2-0 lead. The assist by Castans was her second of the match and her 13th of the season, which put her in a tie for the most assists in a season in program history.

California Baptist (10-9-4) answered right back as Anja Jestrovic took a free kick and put the ball into the net to cut into the Jayhawk lead at 2-1 in the 29th minute.

Kansas responded in the 37th minute when Jocelyn Herrema passed the ball to a sprinting Faith Johnston, who beat the CBU defender down the field and scored her second goal of the season. The Jayhawks took a 3-1 lead into the half.

The second half didn't have any scoring as the defenses for both sides stepped up to not concede another goal. Kansas closed out the 3-1 win to advance to the second round.

Kansas outshot California Baptist 20-8, including 12-5 in shots on goal. Kansas also had an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks. Sophie Dawe tallied three saves to increase her total to 61 on the season.

NOTES
• Kansas advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, and the seventh time in program history.
• Kansas scored three goals in an NCAA Tournament match for the fourth time in program history, and the first time since Nov. 22, 2019.
• The three Kansas goals in the first half are the most goals in a half in an NCAA Tournament match in program history.
• Kansas moved to 15-5-3 on the season and 9-10-0 in the NCAA Tournament.
• Kansas moved to 7-3-2 at home this season. The seven wins are the most since the 2019 season (7).
• Castans recorded her 12th and 13th assists of the season, which puts her in a tie for the most assists in a single season in program history with Whitney Berry in 2011.
• Wimes' goal in the fourth minute of the match was the second fastest by Kansas in an NCAA Tournament game.
• Wimes scored her fifth goal of the season, and the 12th of her career.
• Gregorski scored her career high ninth goal of the season, and 17th of her career.
• Johnston scored her second goal of the season.
• Page recorded her second assist of the season, and the fourth of her career.
• Watts recorded her fifth assist of the season, and the 14th of her career.
• Herrema recorded her third assist of the season.

UP NEXT
Kansas will face the winner of No. 6 seed Louisville and Kentucky on Nov. 20 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Durham, North Carolina, on the campus of Duke University in a neutral site game.