“Despite a hopeful start to defend their home turf, Kansas State’s soccer team suffered the first home loss of the season Friday at the hands of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos. The Wildcats fell short by one goal, only scoring two to UMKC’s three.
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K-State women’s soccer came back from a tough trip in California to defend their undefeated record at home in their sixth match of the season against UMKC. In their last meeting, K-State beat UMKC 2-0.
Eighteen seconds into the game, forward Katie Cramer intercepted the ball and passed it off to midfielder Brookelynn Entz, who shot the ball straight into the back of the net. The first goal of the game gave K-State the lead within the first 30 seconds.
Only seven minutes later, K-State’s momentum helped Cramer send a through-ball to the feet of senior forward Tatum Wagner. Wagner’s quick cut away from UMKC’s goalie left the goal wide open for her to score K-State’s second goal.
K-State’s early lead built tension between the two teams.
In the first half, K-State defenders Haley Sutter and Megan Kalkoffen successfully shut down UMKC forwards, keeping them at two shots on goal.
The rest of the half consisted of close attempts from both teams until the 26th minute, when forward Kelsey Mothershead tapped the ball past K-State’s keeper for UMKC’s first goal. Mothershead would go on to score all of UMKC’s goals.
UMKC almost tied it up from a corner in the 33rd minute, but K-State maintained composure and finished the first half in the lead.
It did not take long after the start of the second half for both teams to attack and attempt to score.
In the 48th minute, UMKC’s forwards pressed into the keeper’s box. K-State’s goalkeeper Emma Malsey collided with a UMKC player, leaving the net open for Mothershead’s shot.
The K-State bench shouted encouragement hoping to keep spirits high.
UMKC counterattacks and Mothershead strode past K-State defense on a breakaway to score her third goal of the game in the 51st minute. The hat trick from UMKC’s forward pulled the team ahead 3-2.
Hungry to retake their lead, K-State pushed to score another goal. The Wildcats went on to attempt nine shots, four on goal.
In the 55th minute midfielder, Laramie Hall charged down the left side of the field and passed it to forward Hannah Davis. A UMKC defender deflected Davis’s shot to give K-State a corner kick.
With five minutes left, K-State fought to get back in the game. UMKC yielded a free kick. In what may have been the Wildcats last chance, Cramer bent the ball around the wall, just wide of the goal.
K-State continued to press forward and create chances, but in the end UMKC defended the Wildcats from scoring. K-State fans tasted a loss at home for the first time this season.
K-State’s next matchup is against the University of Indiana Sept. 9 in Bloomington, Indiana. It will air on 101.5 KROCK.
