Kansas’ Season Comes to an End with 2-0 Defeat at No. 11 Duke

Sunday, November 23

Durham, N.C.

1 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

16-6-3, 6-4-1

Duke

16-4-1, 7-3-0

Kansas

Duke

Photo by: Kansas Athletics

Kansas’ Season Comes to an End with 2-0 Defeat at No. 11 Duke

11/23/2025 4:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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DURHAM, N.C. – Kansas soccer's run in the NCAA Tournament came to an end on Sunday afternoon after a 2-0 loss to No. 11 Duke in the Sweet 16 at Koskinen Stadium.

Kansas finished the season with an overall record of 16-6-3. The 16 wins were the fourth most in program history and the most since 2019. The Jayhawks also set new program records with 51 goals, 154 points and 164 corner kicks.

"I just told the team after the match that every year tends to end in a little bit of sadness and pain," Kansas head coach Nate Lie said. "I think this one is especially up there on the list. This is a great group of young women that represents our program and university at the highest level in and out of the classroom. They brought this program such a far away. They've competed from day one all the way through match 25. They are always fighting and battling, and I'm proud that we did to the end."

Lie continued, "[Being a head coach] is a really tough job on certain days and a really amazing job on certain days. I think the days that it's the most amazing is when you can just see a group of people come together from different backgrounds, different experiences, and work together to accomplish something that none of us could have done by ourselves. When it comes in results and moments of celebration there's not much in life like it and it's just such an honor to be part of. I'm just really, really proud of this group and how they carry themselves and how they represent Kansas soccer."

Kansas had multiple opportunities in the first half, including in the 22nd minute when Lexi Watts kept the ball from going over the endline and dribbled into the six-yard box for a shot, but the ball went high for a goal kick.

Duke (16-4-1) struck first with a goal by Mia Minestrella in the 37th minute to take a 1-0 lead. The Jayhawks had an opportunity to tie the match right before halftime, when Caroline Castans crossed the ball to Kate Langfelder who took a shot with her left foot, but the ball went high with 30 seconds left in the half. Despite a 1-0 halftime deficit, Kansas held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.

The Blue Devils were granted a penalty kick in the 47th minute after a review that determined KU committed a foul in the box. Kat Rader took the penalty kick and Sophie Dawe saved the initial shot, but Rader then picked up the rebound and put the ball into the net to give Duke a 2-0 lead.

Kansas was unable to generate many chances in the second half, finishing with only three shots in the half. Duke outshot Kansas 13-9 in the match, despite the Jayhawks holding an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks.
"If you would have told me a couple months ago that we would have made the Sweet 16, I would have been ecstatic for our team," Watts said following the match. "We wanted to win. We wanted to make history, so it's obviously a little bit sad, but I'm just super proud of all the girls. Everyone has stepped up and everyone has had a role on this team, and I think that's the best part. These have been the best couple years of my life and I'm thankful for this team. I'm going to have these people at my side for the rest of my life, so I'm just super grateful for all of them."

NOTES
• Kansas finished the season with an overall record of 16-6-3. The 16 wins were the fourth most in a season in program history.
• Kansas fell to 10-11-0 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• Kansas made its third appearance all-time in the Sweet 16 (2003, 2019, 2025).
• Kansas played 17 of its 25 matches in 2025 against teams in the NCAA Tournament this season (14 different opponents). The 25 matches played by Kansas this season were the most in the country through games played on Nov. 23.
• Kansas moved to 19-6-2 in two seasons under Coach Lie in games played away from Lawrence. The 19 road/neutral wins over the last two seasons are the most in the country and the nine road/neutral wins in 2025 led the nation.
• The trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2025 was the 11th time in school history and marked the third time ever in back-to-back seasons, including the first since 2018-19.