The Kansas State women’s soccer team will play their first home game in the Big 12 conference on Friday at 7 p.m against West Virginia University at the K-State Soccer Complex.
K-State is entering the match with a 5-5-1 record in non-conference play and a 0-2-0 record in the Big 12, while West Virginia is coming in at 8-3-0 in non-conference play and 1-1-0 in Big 12 play. West Virginia is currently ranked number nine in the country.
West Virginia had their four-game winning streak broken against the University of Texas, who are now 10-0-0 in nonconference play and 2-0-0 in the Big 12. The last time the West Virginia Mountaineers lost a regular season Big 12 match was in their last game of the regular season against Texas Tech in 2013.
The Wildcats played their first two Big 12 matches against Texas Tech and Texas Christian University last weekend. In these matches, K-State only scored one goal total and allowed four over the course of the two matchups.
Against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, the Wildcats allowed three goals. Sophomore middle forward Ashley Zane scored the lone goal for K-State, and the assist came from sophomore Katie Cramer. This was the first goal against a Big 12 opponent in K-State soccer program history.
Head coach Mike Dibbini said he is nonetheless optimistic about his team’s scoring chances in the Big 12.
“It is always good to get a goal, especially from somebody that comes off the bench and changes the game and gives us a spark the way Ashley Zane and Katie Cramer did there on that play,” Dibbini said to K-State Sports.
The Red Raiders recorded 28 total shots and 14 shots on goal. Senior Miranda Larkin set a K-State school record for saves with 11 in one game. Texas Tech improved their record to 8-2-0 in non-conference play and 1-0-0 in the Big 12.
While the Wildcat defense held the TCU Horned Frogs to only one goal, they struggled offensively. K-State had only five shots with two on goal and three corner kicks. On the other side, Texas Tech had 28 shots with 14 on goal and six corner kicks. The teams had 19 fouls combined.
In the match against TCU, the Wildcats held the Horned Frogs scoreless for the first 75 minutes of the match. K-State had three shots with four saves, while TCU finished the night with 15 shots, five on goal and 15 corner kicks. TCU improved to 8-3-0 non-conference and 2-0-0 in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs scored their goal on a miscue to win the match.
K-State enters their match against West Virginia having scored a goal in eight straight home games.
