Kansas Defeats Kansas State 2-0 in Dillons Sunflower Showdown

Thursday, October 8

Manhattan, Kan.

6:30 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

9-3-1, 3-1-1

Kansas State

5-4-4, 0-4-1

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

Box Score (PDF)

Photo by: Arun Halder/Kansas Athletics

Kansas Defeats Kansas State 2-0 in Dillons Sunflower Showdown

10/8/2026 9:47:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas scored two second half goals en route to a 2-0 shutout victory over Kansas State in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Thursday evening at Buser Family Park in Manhattan, Kansas. Jordan Rowan and Jocelyn Herrema each scored a goal in the win.

Kansas improved to 9-3-1 (3-1-1 Big 12) on the season, while Kansas State dropped to 5-4-4 (0-4-1 Big 12).

"This was a really important and big win," Kansas head coach Nate Lie said. "I have a ton of respect for this Kansas State program. That first half was a stalemate. I don't think either team created great chances. I don't think either team was able to control the ball. It felt like one of those games where the first goal might win it. The thing I'm probably most proud about tonight is that we came out of halftime with a renewed sense of urgency and commitment. We made some coaching points and some adjustments tactically, and I think those were applied, and worked for the most part."

"Goals change games, and usually, goals come out of stuff that we talk about and train. Norah had a chance, and I felt like she might have rushed it a little bit, but the good part was that she put the ball where it needed to go and made the keeper make a save. Jordan was in the perfect spot and tapped it in, and I think that allowed us to exhale," Lie said. "We probably had our best 10 to 15 minutes after that, and it felt like we might get a second goal. That second goal wasn't when we were pressing our hardest. It was just quality from two seniors in Caroline and Jocelyn making a fantastic play. The team looked in control, and I'm really proud of the performance, the commitment, the unity, the grit, and eventually the result."

The Wildcats were the first to threaten in the ninth minute with a Gabby DeMers shot that was saved by KU goalkeeper Sophie Dawe.

Just 30 seconds later, the Jayhawks generated a chance inside the 18-yard box. Jillian Gregorski took control of the loose ball and fired a shot towards the left side of the goal, but the shot was corralled by the KSU keeper to keep the match scoreless.

Throughout the rest of the first half, Kansas controlled the possession and controlled the ball deep in the Wildcat half of the field but couldn't draw another chance before halftime.

The Jayhawks upped the offensive pressure right out of halftime, scoring the first goal of the game in the 50th minute. Gregorski dribbled the ball up the left side of the field and crossed the ball to Norah Jacomen, who ripped off a shot towards goal that was saved by the Wildcat keeper. The ball bounced towards Rowan, who sprinted up to the ball and put it into the back of the net to give KU the 1-0 lead.

After multiple scoring opportunities, Kansas added to their lead in the 66th minute of the match. Herrema took control of the ball in the middle of the field and passed it out wide to Caroline Castans. She then took a run up the field and passed the ball back to Herrema in the box, who took a strike that went past the keeper to give the Jayhawks a 2-0 lead.

Three minutes later, Kansas State tried to cut into the lead with a shot by Anna Pagano, but the shot was saved by Dawe to keep K-State scoreless.

The teams were able to defend any chance for the rest of the match, with Kansas attempting one more shot and Kansas State not taking any shots to end the match with a score of 2-0 in favor of Kansas.

NOTES

Kansas improved to 9-3-1 on the season, and 3-1-1 in Big 12 play.
Kansas improved to 23-9-3 in matches played away from Lawrence under Lie.
Kansas recorded its seventh shutout of the season.
Kansas held a 13-7 shot advantage over Kansas State.
Kansas registered seven corner kicks.
Kansas has now won four straight matches over Kansas State.
Rowan scored her second goal of the season, and the sixth of her career.
Herrema scored her third goal of the season, and the fifth of her career.
Jacomen tallied her third assist of the season.
Castans recorded her third assist of the season, and the 24th of her career.

UP NEXT
Kansas will travel to Boulder, Colorado to take on the No. 24-ranked Colorado Buffaloes on Sunday, Oct. 11. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CT.