The Texas Christian University women’s soccer team beat Kansas State on Sunday by a score of 2-1 in Manhattan on the Wildcats’ senior day.
TCU got the scoring started early when senior forward McKenzie Oliver slid a shot between the post and Wildcat sophomore goalkeeper Emma Malsy from eight yards out in the 23rd minute. This was Oliver’s second goal of the season.
The Wildcats were outshot 14-to-one in the first half; that lone shot was a shot on goal that came from senior forward Tatum Wagner in the ninth minute. It was saved by TCU’s sophomore goalkeeper Emily Alvarado.
TCU managed to force Malsy into four saves in the first half and nine overall. K-State took a 1-0 deficit into the halftime locker room.
In the second half, K-State found a quick equalizing goal in the 47th minute. Senior defender Hali Sutter got her head on a corner kick taken by sophomore forward Hannah Davis and sent it into the back of the net. It was Sutter’s second goal of the year.
“It’s always nice to get a goal in the Big 12 level,” head coach Mike Dibbini said to K-State Sports.
For the next 23 minutes, it looked like K-State might eke out a non-loss result for the first time in Big 12 play this season, despite being totally dominated for most of the game by TCU.
In the 70th minute however, TCU would get their own set-piece goal. This time, sophomore midfielder Yazmeen Ryan sent a corner in that found the head of sophomore forward Natalee Heiser and went in past Malsy, making the score 2-1 TCU.
Ultimately, the Horned Frogs would outshoot K-State 25-4 and put 11 shots on goal to K-State’s feeble three.
K-State fell to 4-9-2 on the season and 0-6-0 in conference play. They have not won a game since a 3-0 road romp over Tulsa on Sept. 16.
K-State’s home crowd said goodbye to seniors Morgan Egan, Krista Haddock, Megan Kalkofen, Morgan Mauck, Haley Sutter and Tatum Wagner before the match during the senior day ceremony. Those six seniors combined for 15 goals in their time at K-State.
“It was extremely special,” Dibbini said. “We honored and celebrated them today. They helped pave the way and set the foundation. I will always have a piece of them in my heart.”
The road does not get any easier for K-State, which will head to Waco, Texas, to play the Baylor Bears, who won the Big 12 Tournament last season as a five seed.
Baylor is ranked 14th by the United Soccer Coaches poll and sits at 12-4-0 on the year. They are 5-1 in the conference and 7-0 at home and are tied for first place in the Big 12 with West Virginia.
The Wildcats will then head to Austin, Texas, to take on the Texas Longhorns and then Ames, Iowa, to finish up their season against Iowa State.
