This year, the Kansas State Wildcat soccer schedule has probably looked a bit different from other schedules K-State fans might be used to seeing. There are no opponents like West Virginia or Texas Tech, or even Kansas.
That’s because this year, the Wildcats soccer team is not playing as a formal part of the Big 12. Instead, they are playing their inaugural season as an independent. They’ve played teams like South Dakota and Northern Iowa, and a slate of Arkansas teams instead.
That, however, will change next year when the team officially joins the Big 12.
With that in mind, here is a rundown of some happenings from this week as those currently playing in the Big 12 started conference play.
Oklahoma beats Texas on late goal in overtime
Texas is the only Big 12 team the Wildcats will play this season, though the Oct. 7 matchup will still count as a nonconference game. On Sunday, the Longhorns (6-4-1) played the Oklahoma Sooners (9-2-1) in Norman, Oklahoma.
It was a hotly contested game, according to the Daily Texan’s Alex Bresino. The Longhorns scored in the first 10 minutes courtesy of Texas freshman forward Cyera Hintzen, who gave them a lead that held until the final five minutes of the game. Then, Oklahoma’s midfielders took over.
Oklahoma got the equalizer in the 86th minute off the foot of Oklahoma junior midfielder Rasha Roberts, then, with only 30 seconds left in overtime, got the game winner off a shot by junior midfielder Lizzie Luallin.
Texas had previously earned a 1-1 draw Friday against Baylor.
The win for Oklahoma moved them to (2-0-1) in conference play. Oklahoma is not currently ranked in the top 25, but are one of two Big 12 teams receiving votes to possibly move into the rankings. The other is TCU, who also won by a goal Sunday in extra time.
No. 4 West Virginia continues push to tournament
Like Oklahoma, every vote counts toward the West Virginia Mountaineer’s position in the rankings. Unlike Oklahoma, they don’t need votes to get into the top 25 because they already are a top 5 team.
The Mountaineers (8-1-1) had dropped in the rankings released Sept. 20 after losing to then-No. 9 Georgetown in double-overtime on Sept. 18. At the time, the Mountaineers were ranked No. 2 in the country and were even ranked No. 1 in a few polls.
Friday’s game saw the No.4 ranked Mountaineers take on Richmond. Like Texas, the Mountaineers started fast, scoring a goal just 47 seconds in, according to Shannon McNamara of West Virginia Sports. From then on, it was a route. West Virginia outshot Richmond 23-11 in the game.
The Mountaineers were then idle on Sunday.
No. 25 Texas Tech holds firm again Iowa State
Texas Tech is another Big 12 school jockeying for position in the rankings. The Red Raiders (8-2-2) beat the Iowa State Cyclones (7-3-0) by a score of 3-0 Sunday after losing to Kansas (2-1) in their conference opener Friday.
The Red Raiders used a strong first half that included two goals by freshman forward Jade King to recover from the loss to Kansas Friday, according to Texas Tech sports.
The game was the Red Raiders’ final one in September, a month which saw the team record both their losses. The team had previously lost on Sept. 2, falling 4-0 to the University of California-Berkley in Lubbock, Texas. The win Sunday made it likely the team will preserve its spot in the rankings.
The Red Raiders and the Mountaineers were the only Big 12 schools in the national top 25 as of Sept. 20, but those rankings did not reflect this weekend’s games.
Baylor completes comeback, beats Oklahoma State in overtime
Neither Baylor Bears (8-3-1) nor Oklahoma State Cowgirls (5-5-2) are currently ranked, but the teams played a hard-fought game Sunday, according to Baylor Athletics.
The Bears fell behind early on a goal by Oklahoma State sophomore forward Marlo Zoller in the 18th minute, but tied the game on a goal by sophomore midfielder Julie James in the 68th minute. They then won the game six minutes into overtime on a goal by sophomore midfielder Sarah King.
