Jayhawks fall in OT on Senior Day
LAWRENCE, Kan. – An equalizing goal with 88 seconds remaining in regulation, followed by an own goal less than two minutes into overtime was enough to give the Texas Tech Red Raiders the late, come-from-behind victory over the Kansas Jayhawks, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Rock Chalk Park. Senior Grace Hagan scored her sixth goal of the year before TTU found the back of the net twice within the three-minute span to had KU just its second home loss of 2018.
With the loss, Kansas fell to 10-3-2 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play, with three more regular-season league games left to be played. Texas Tech improved to 12-3-1 for the 2018 season and 4-2-1 in Big 12 play.
On her Senior Day, Kansas forward Grace Hagan broke open the tie match in the 53rd minute when she shot in a cross from junior defender Elisa Reina, putting the Jayhawks up on the scoreboard first, 1-0. Hagan’s sixth goal of 2018 moved the Wichita native into sole possession of fifth place on the school’s career goals chart, now at 24.
The score remained 1-0 in favor of the home team on a cold, blustery and rainy day in Lawrence until there was just 88 ticks remaining on the clock. It was then that Texas Tech’s Cassie Hiatt headed in a free kick from Brooke Denesik to send the match into extra time. A mere two minutes into the first overtime period, a deflection off a Kansas defender slipped past the Jayhawk goalkeeper, Sarah Peters, to end the match with TTU’s golden goal.
In the first 45 minutes of play, Kansas outshot Texas Tech, 13-4. TTU’s goalkeeper, Marissa Zucchetto, had three saves. By the end of the day, the Jayhawks had nearly doubled up on the visitors from Lubbock by a shot tally of 19-10. However, the shot that mattered the most was KU’s own goal, which ended the match and the Jayhawks’ regular season at Rock Chalk Park, as their final three contests of 2018 are all on the road.
QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Francis
His overall thoughts on the contest:
“That was probably our best game in terms of how we played, how we pressured the ball and how we competed. There weren’t a lot of things I thought we didn’t do well today except for defending the set piece, which allowed them to get back into the game.”
How he handled post game in the locker room:
“I’m disappointed for our kids, our seniors especially. We wanted to get them a win on senior day but obviously that didn’t happen. I told the kids ‘if nothing else it should really upset you heading into the game against Texas.’ This group is so resilient, we will bounce back and play well on Friday.”
Senior forward Grace Hagan
On thoughts after the game
“Really awful conditions I think today but the girls came out and played the best we could. It was probably the best performance we’ve had yet, especially considering the conditions that is huge for us. We knew that Tech were competitors and I thought we gave them one hell of a game.”
On this being her senior night
“We wanted to make this a memorable day. We knew that the conditions were bad but there were plenty of fans here to support all of us. Family members that came from far away. So, it was a special day, just wish we could’ve got the win, but the seniors definitely felt the love.”
NOTABLES
- Prior to first kick, Kansas honored six student-athletes who would be playing in their final regular-season home match Sunday afternoon at Rock Chalk Park. The senior class of Lauren Breshears, Grace Hagan, Miriam Melugin and Kaycie Young, in addition to redshirt juniors Taylor Christie and Anna Courtney, and their families, were recognized. These six players have been a part of 39 KU victories since 2015 and have helped their team to a top-three finish in the Big 12 Conference as well as a NCAA Tournament berth.
- For the eighth time this season, the Jayhawks and their opponents headed to the locker rooms at halftime tied, as neither team scored a goal in the first 45 minutes of play. The Jayhawks’ overall record when tied with their opponents at half in 2018 now stands at 5-2-1 and dropped their Big 12 record to 1-2-0.
- Kansas’ sixth overtime played this fall, the 2018 Jayhawks matched the mark previously set by the teams of in 2007, 2015 and 2016. KU’s 2-1 OT loss was its first in extra time this season and evened the team’s record at 3-1-2 in its six OT matches.
- Prior to today, Kansas had been nearly impossible to beat when playing on its home pitch in 2018. In their 10 regular-season outings at Rock Chalk Park, the Jayhawks are now 8-2-0. That streak continues to become more impressive every year in Lawrence, as KU is now 30-14-2 in matches played at home during the regular season since the beginning of the 2014 campaign.
- The match marked just the third loss since 2012 in a game that Kansas has scored first. The Jayhawks are now 63-3-8 since that season when netting the match’s first goal.
- Kansas and Texas Tech met on the soccer pitch for the 26th time Sunday afternoon, and ninth since 2012. From 1999-2009, KU was unbeaten in 11 of 12 matches versus TTU; however, the Jayhawks have tallied just two wins over the Red Raiders since 2009. Each of the last seven KU-TTU matches have been decided by one goal or less. With the Red Raiders’ 2-1 OT victory Sunday, the all-time series record between the two schools moves to 13-11-2 in Kansas’ favor.
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks will journey to the Lone Star State for a pair of matches against top-25 ranked teams. KU will meet the No. 20-ranked Texas Longhorns in Austin on Friday, Oct. 19 for a 7 p.m., match before traveling to Waco to play the No. 14 Baylor Bears on Sunday, Oct. 21. First touch from Waco is set for 2 p.m., and the match will be televised on ESPNU.
FOLLOW
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