No. 23 Jayhawks Hang On for 2-2 Draw at TCU
FORT WORTH, Texas – A goal for both sides in the final three minutes of regulation saw the No. 23 Kansas Jayhawks and TCU Horned Frogs settle for a 2-2 draw Sunday afternoon at Garvey-Rosenthal Stadium. Senior Katie McClure tallied her 12th goal of the season, while junior Ceri Holland sent in her seventh of 2019 via a penalty kick as KU extended its unbeaten streak to five games.
The draw moved Kansas to 11-4-3 on the year and 3-2-3 in Big 12 play with one game remaining in the regular season. TCU went to 10-5-2 in 2019 and 4-2-2 in the conference.
McClure highlighted an impressive opening half for the Jayhawks, The Wichita product gained possession at the top of the TCU box in the 21st minute and let loose a left-footed shot that flew just under the crossbar and in for the game’s opening goal. The strike marked McClure’s 34th-career goal.
Following the intermission, the TCU came out of the lockerroom intent on not spoiling its home finale. Tara Smith converted on a corner kick and got her team on the board just three minutes after the restart to knot up the score at 1-1.
Smith’s goal was one of 16 second-half shots for the home side, however, the Jayhawk defense and goalkeeper Sara Peters managed to keep the Horned Frogs scoreless for the bulk of the half.
With under three minutes to play in regulation, McClure was fouled inside the TCU box and the Jayhawks were granted a penalty kick. Holland sized up the try and slotted home her seventh of the season to put her team ahead late in regulation.
The late KU lead would not hold, however, as TCU’s Messiah Bright headed in a cross with just 13 seconds remaining in regulation. The goal marked the second-latest goal conceded in regulation by a Jayhawk squad and just the second goal KU has conceded after the 75th minute this season.
After two, hard-fought 10-minute overtime periods, the two squads settled for a 2-2 draw. TCU ended the match with a 25-15 edge in shots, but, the two teams were even in shots on target at seven apiece.
UP NEXT
Kansas will hit the road for the final match of a regular-season, a contest against the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames on Thursday, Oct. 31. The game, set to kickoff at 7 p.m., will be streamed live on Cyclone.tv.
