KU Offense Comes Alive Late in 3-0 Exhibition Win Over Jackrabbits

Kansas 3, South Dakota St. 0 (Ex.)
Jayhawk Soccer Complex // Lawrence, Kan.
1st 2nd OT Final
South Dakota State 0 0 0 0
Kansas 0 2 1 3
Scoring
KU 76′ Ali Kimura (Estrada)
KU 79′ Eli Mayr (Kimura)
KU 94′ Ashley Williams (unassisted)
Goalkeepers Min GA Sv
SDSU Nicole Inskeep 60:00 0 1
SDSU Elisa Stamatakis 45:00 3 1
KU Kaitlyn Stroud 45:00 0 0
KU Maddie Dobyns 30:00 0 0
KU Lauren Breshears 30:00 0 0
Stats at a Glance SDSU KU
Shots 16 16
Shots on Goal 0 5
Saves 2 0
Offsides 1 8
Corner Kicks 7 4
Fouls 2 6
Yellow Cards 0 0
Red Cards    0 0

Box Score // Shot Chart // Photo Gallery

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Three goals over the final 30 minutes lifted the Kansas soccer team to a 3-0 exhibition win over South Dakota State Friday evening inside the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. Senior Ali Kimura netted the game-winner and added an assist in the victory.
 
“I was really encouraged by the way we competed today,” said head coach Mark Francis. “I thought South Dakota State really played us tough and exposed some things we’ll need to work on as we move into the regular season. But there were also some things that we did really well today and can build on moving forward.”
 
The match, which was played with an extra 15 minute period to give both teams added practice before the regular season begins next week, featured over 40 players seeing action throughout the exhibition.
 
The first 45 minutes were played relatively evenly between both teams with the Jayhawks holding a slight edge in shots at 7-6. KU nearly took an advantage in the 34th minute when junior Liana Salazar almost bent in a long shot from the left side of the 18-yard box to the far post. The ball just missed, however, after it slammed off the cross bar, keeping the 0-0 tie intact. It was also a frustrating first period with the Kansas front line being called offside on five different occasions.
 
South Dakota came out for the second 45 minutes with new motivation, outshooting the home team 7-2 in the following half-hour of action. The Kansas defense held strong though, keeping the clean sheet alive and moving the ball forward to try and ignite the offense.
 
The tide turned in the 76th minute when the Jayhawks finally managed to break through and take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Tayler Estrada found Kimura on the end an on-point through ball into the box. Kimura put in the right-footed strike past the diving SDSU keeper for the first goal of the match.
 
It only took three minutes for Kansas to add to its lead when, with Kimura this time on the helping end, freshman Eli Mayr gained possession in the Jackrabbit penalty area with only the keeper to beat. A quick move to her right and a strong strike to the bottom right corner did the trick and tacked on KU’s second goal.
 
The Jayhawks held firm over the next 15 minutes before junior Ashley Williams put the final nail in the coffin with her goal in the 94th minute. Senior Hayley Yearout put in a shot from just outside the six-yard box that glanced off the South Dakota State keeper and to the foot of Williams. The Albuquerque, New Mexico native chipped in the rebound with little resistance from the visitors to put the Jayhawks up 3-0.
 
The final horn sounded 12 minutes later to give Kansas its third-straight preseason exhibition victory. While Kansas came out with the win, the teams played even in the shot column with both amassing 16 shots in 105 minutes. The Jayhawks managed to get five of their shots on goal with the Jackrabbits not able to put any on frame, making it an easy day for the KU goalkeepers.
 
Kimura led all offensive players with a goal, an assist and two shots, while Williams put in a game-high five shots, two of which were on goal. Three Kansas keepers combined for the shutout with senior Kaitlyn Stroud seeing 45 minutes in goal and freshmen Maddie Dobyns and Lauren Breshears each tallying 30 minutes apiece between the posts.
 
Kansas will kick off the 2014 regular season when it plays its inaugural match at Rock Chalk Park versus the Wyoming Cowgirls on Aug. 22. Start time from the newly-constructed facility is set for 7 p.m. The game will air for free live on the Jayhawk Radio Network at KUAthletics.com
 
 
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