The Wildcats came back strong from a tough loss last week against Gonzaga and defended their home turf on Sunday, shutting out Tulsa 2-0.
In the first half, the Wildcats outperformed the Golden Hurricanes in shots (11-4), shots on goal (6-1) and corner kicks (6-2). Despite a dominant first half, both of K-State’s goals did not come until the second half.
After a tough 3-2 overtime loss against Gonzaga last Thursday, Kansas State head coach Mike Dibbini told K-State sports, “It was an emotional drain on Thursday night.”
Dibbini continued: “For us to respond against this team in this grinder of a game, you know we kept plugging along and figuring it out, and we just needed to find separation. That Katie Cramer goal was the separation we needed, and then we felt a lot more comfortable.”
The separation came two minutes into the start of the second half. Senior forward Katie Cramer gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead with a successful set piece from a corner kick.
Freshman defender Silke Bonnen placed the kick six yards out of the near post. Cramer connected the ball with a header to score her third goal of the season.
Cramer told K-State Sports the set play was all thanks to assistant coach Kat Benton.
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“Kat is in charge of our attacking set pieces, she puts a lot of effort into it honestly, right before we came back out she told me we’re going to do this play and you’re going to be in this position, and I just went exactly where she told me to go,” Cramer said.
Cramer is tied for most career goals in the program’s history at 7 goals.
K-State’s second goal came in the 58th minute.
Senior midfielder Laramie Hall beat two defenders after an assist from redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Harris. Hall cut to the right to pass Tulsa’s senior goalkeeper Mica Mackay.
Harris not only got an assist, but also recorded her first-ever shutout in a Wildcat uniform with four saves during 90 minutes of play.
Kansas State ended the game outperforming the Golden Hurricanes in shots (20-10), shots on goal (12-4) and corner kicks (8-2).
The next game will be next Saturday at 7 p.m. at Buser Family Park. The Wildcats will host Brigham Young.
