Last Thursday, when Kansas took the pitch in the season-opener, the goal scoring prowess the No.25 team in the nation was expected to present, was on full display as a 5-2 win over Missouri State showcased headers, counter-attacks, and instinctive goals led the way for the Jayhawks to get off the mark firing.
Yet, this afternoon saw something different, a much more chippy, on-edge affair against South Dakota State narrowly saw Kansas push past the Jackrabbits.
In what was a relatively strong first half, Kansas peppered the Jackrabbit goal with 12 shots taken, not a single found the back of the net as a resolute South Dakota State defense held strong despite holding a stance of five shots faced in just under forty seconds midway through the first period. Compared to South Dakota State's five first-half shots.
The second half finally saw Kansas breakthrough when 13 minutes into the second period, midfielder Livvy Moore picked up a curled pass from defender Caroline Castans, leading Moore nicely into cutting into the box on her right foot before drilling a shot to upper-left corner, leaving a sprawling Mallorie Bennhart with no chance of keeping the rocket out of the net.
Moore spoke after the game with ESPN, where she described her goal. "I think I just cut inside and saw an opportunity so I took it."
The former Oregon Duck expanded on head coach Nate Lie's message at half to keep creating their own chances. "Yeah we talked about it at half-time and I know I was trying to apply it just as much as everybody else out there. "
Defensively, the Jayhawks held firm, allowing just five shots from South Dakota State, including three saves from keeper Sophie Dawe. Last season, Dawe exploded onto the scene making the Big 12 All-Tournament Team, where Dawe also put up an astounding 50 saves as Kansas eventually won the Big 12 Tournament last season.
Lie spoke with Kansas athletics after the match, saying, "the best team tends to win on Thursday night, and the tougher team tends to win on Sunday."
"Nobody feels as fresh as they did on Thursday and you just have to still try to execute, still try to buy into and epitomize your identity, and it's more difficult. Today was a tough one, a great opponent. I thought we had our opportunities early in the game, when opportunities come in more often and more easily, we need to kind of take control and maybe put a couple of goals on the board."
Up next for Kansas is a match against Utah Valley, before Kansas travels to Utah State, all before a highly-anticipated match against Florida State truly kicks off towards the tail-end of August.
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