The Kansas State soccer team had a historic night on Friday as the team scored its first Big 12 conference win over its in-state rival, the University of Kansas. The Wildcats won 1-0 and have an overall record of 6-6-1 for the season.
Head coach Mike Dibbini said he could not have been more proud of his team.
“It is an unbelievable feeling to get that first Big 12 win,” Dibbini said to K-State Sports. “These girls played extremely hard tonight and they deserve every bit of it right now. We stuck to the game plan, and made an adjustment at half. These girls have been unreal. They are very coachable, and it just feels even better to get the first win in the Sunflower Showdown.”
Neither team scored in the first half, but it did not take long for the Wildcats to take the lead in the second half. In the 47th minute, freshman forward Hannah Davis scored off an assist from sophomore forward Katie Cramer.
On the defensive side, senior goalkeeper Miranda Larkin had nine saves for the night, six of which came in the second half and late in the game. Larkin gave credit to the jeering KU fans for her standout effort.
“Their fans really helped me out and pumped me up,” Larkin said to K-State Sports. “I do really well under pressure and when people are yelling at me and trying to get under my skin, I really play better. I was ready to get the shutout and get our first Big 12 win. We got that goal and I wasn’t going to give up that goal.”
The game also set a record for attendance for a Division 1 soccer game in the state of Kansas. The 2,514 fans in attendance broke the record previously set by K-State during its home opener last season.
The Wildcat soccer team will have its next game on Oct. 13 at home against the Baylor Bears. The match will kick off at 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN3 or heard on 101.5 KROCK.
