McLaughlin’s Late Score Lifts No. 19 Kansas Past Iowa State

Friday, October 16

Lawrence, Kan.

5 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

11-3-1, 5-1-1

Iowa State

4-7-4, 0-5-2

Team	1	2	Final F
Iowa St.	0	0	0
Kansas	0	1	1

Box Score (PDF)

McLaughlin’s Late Score Lifts No. 19 Kansas Past Iowa State

10/16/2026 7:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats Nate Lie Postgame Interview Photo Gallery

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Another night of late heroics from Marit McLaughlin helped No. 19 Kansas sneak past Iowa State on Friday night at Rock Chalk Park. McLaughlin received an 87th-minute corner kick from Livvy Moore, sneaking it into the bottom left corner and giving the Jayhawks a 1-0 lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Kansas moves to 11-3-1 on the year and 5-1-1 in Big 12 play, while Iowa State falls to 4-7-4 and 0-5-2 in Big 12 action.

"I think we wear out opponents, we're really owning the box score in the second half," Kansas head coach Nate Lie said. "We have resilience, we do a good job of fueling urgency. I think we do a pretty decent job of calming down in the most intense moments instead of panicking."

Kansas posted the first real scoring chance of the match in the sixth minute, when Jillian Gregorski's shot from just inside the 18-yard box was dispatched by Cyclone goalkeeper Eme McClenahan. Gregorski would test McClenahan twice more in the first 10 minutes, with both shots being turned away.

Iowa State's first opportunity of the evening came in the 17th minute, when Breezie Brewer sent a shot from outside the box toward the bottom right corner. Brewer's shot forced Sophie Dawe to make a diving save, keeping the match scoreless.

Both teams struggled for offensive momentum throughout the first half, firing in a combined 12 shots but staying scoreless through the opening 45.

Early in the second half, the Jayhawks applied quick pressure and tallied three consecutive corner kicks while posting five-straight shots that McClenahan and the Iowa State defense continued to withstand.

Much like the first, the second half was a struggle for momentum for both sides. Kansas' defense limited any attacking opportunities for the Cyclones, but was swiftly matched by Iowa State's defensive resiliency. Throughout the half, the Jayhawks left the Cyclones under near-constant pressure yet were held at bay.

Kansas put together a late charge in the final five minutes, giving Gregorski a chance to net the winner in the 85th before a sliding block from an Iowa State defender thwarted the challenge.

The Jayhawks' breakthrough finally came in the 87th minute, when Moore found McLaughlin off a corner. McLaughlin used her back heel to ricochet a shot off of McClenahan, breaking the deadlock and giving Kansas a late lead it wouldn't relinquish.

"I just told the team that I think, and hope and wish, that we can do that much more in the first half," Lie added. "I thought this game was there to be had if we approached the first 45 minutes like the last 45, and you can't keep playing with fire like that if you want to get away with it. For the time being though, I'll take tonight."

NOTES

Kansas moved to 11-3-1 on the season, and 4-1-1 in Big 12 play.
Kansas recorded its ninth shutout of the season.
Kansas outshot Iowa State 24-8.
Kansas registered nine corner kicks.
Dawe recorded six saves.
Moore recorded her 11th assist of the season, tied for the national lead.
McLaughlin scored her fifth career goal.
Kansas has outscored opponents 24-3 in the second half.

UP NEXT
Kansas will host BYU on Thursday, Oct. 22 for Jayhawks for a Cure night. Kickoff at Rock Chalk Park is set for 6 p.m. CT, and the match can be seen on ESPN+.