Georgoulis shines in Kansas’ 3-0 win at UMKC
KANSAS CITY, Mo. –Senior Jackie Georgoulis tallied two assists as well as the Jayhawks’ final goal and helped lead Kansas to a 3-0 win over the UMKC Kangaroos Sunday night inside Durwood Stadium. Freshmen Katie McClure and Sophie Maierhofer also added goals in the victory, marking the sixth and seventh goals of the year scored by true freshmen.
The win moved Kansas to 5-2-1 this season, while UMKC dropped to 1-4-2 in its 2016 campaign.
“I thought we played well tonight,” said head coach Mark Francis. “We did a great job of being consistent and creating chances in the attacking third of the field, and that was great to see because we’ve been working on that a lot. We also put a lot of pressure on them for the entire game and that made it hard for them to get into any kind of rhythm. Things are starting to click for us so hopefully we can keep that momentum going into our games next weekend, because we have two tough games ahead of us (against USC and Pepperdine).”
Kansas wasted little time in getting on the board Sunday night, just 166 seconds to be exact. Georgoulis, a native of Arlington Heights, Illinois, beat two UMKC defenders to win a ball inside the ‘Roo penalty area. She took one touch to find the feet of freshman Katie McClure near the PK spot, who turned and let loose a strike that soared inside the left post.
McClure’s third goal of the year was the fastest by a Jayhawk since November of last season and the fourth KU goal that has come within the first 20 minutes this season.
It took just less than 30 minutes for the Kansas to find the back of the net for the second time. Once again, Georgoulis helped create the KU chance when she lined up a Jayhawk free kick from 30 yards out. The senior captain sent in high pass toward the far post, where freshman Sophie Maierhofer was waiting. Maierhofer rose above the defenders and got her head on the ball, sending it inside the upper left corner of the UMKC frame. The goal was the first of the Austrian’s KU career and gave the Jayhawks a 2-0 lead still with 60 minutes to play in the match.
Kansas continued to keep the ‘Roos at a two-goal deficit for the remainder of the match, however the home side didn’t make it easy. UMKC started the second half outshooting the Jayhawks 6-4, but was unable to cut into the KU lead.
Georgoulis closed the game out with some fireworks by blasting home Kansas’ third goal. With 90 seconds remaining, sophomore Grace Hagan found her senior teammate at the top of the UMKC box, before Georgoulis sent a rocket into the back of the net from more than 20 yards out. The goal was the first of the season and third of her KU career.
Moments later the final horn sounded and gave Kansas an undefeated weekend as well as its sixth unbeaten result in its last nine outings.
Georgoulis’ performance marked the first one-goal, two-assist outing by a Jayhawks since Liana Salazar matched the feet against Iowa State last season. Along with her assist, Hagan tallied six shots to lead all players and helped KU end the match outshooting UMKC 16-7.
Kansas split time between its goalkeepers with junior Maddie Dobyns playing the opening 45 minutes and redshirt freshman Regan Gibbs seeing her first regular-season action in a KU outfit, spending the second frame in goal. Gibbs made the lone KU save of the match, a diving stop near the start of the second half to keep the ‘Roos off the board.
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks will jet to the west coast for a pair of matches in southern California. KU will meet the USC Trojans in Los Angeles on Friday, Sept. 16 in a 5 p.m. (CT) kickoff. Two days later Kansas will head to Malibu for a Sunday afternoon date with Pepperdine. The Jayhawks and Waves are slated to hit the pitch at 3 p.m. (CT).
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