The Wildcats (2-7-2, 0-2-0) hosted the Texas Longhorns (7-4-0, 2-0-0) on a windy Sunday afternoon, looking to secure their first win in Big 12 action. The Longhorns kept a clean sheet and left Buser Family Park with a 1-0 advantage after a late goal in the 86th minute.
This is the third consecutive loss for the Wildcats, winning only one out of five straight home games.
Despite the loss, head coach Mike Dibbini made a point of acknowledging the growth the soccer team has been through, and said he is hopeful for what’s to come in the next Big 12 matches.
“I felt like we did a good job of competing. We had some chances, they had some chances, they’re a good team. I just feel like, right now, we’re in a stage where we’ve got to continue to keep working hard, which they will,” Dibbini said to K-State Sports.”The harder we work, the luckier we’re going to get and it’ll bounce our way once we can continue to do that. It’s coming, we’re on the verge, we’re on the brink, we’ve just had some unlucky breaks. They scored the one that mattered and that’s coming for us.”
Related:
K-State soccer falls to undefeated BYU 5-0
With 30 miles per hour winds in favor of Texas in the first half, they outshot the Wildcats 12-4. Despite the wind disadvantage, redshirt Sophomore Rachel Harris was able to get three saves and keep the score tied 0-0 at the half.
“I think knowing how well the end of the first half went just kind of carried our momentum into the second half,” freshman midfielder Shae Turner said to K-State Sports.
“Obviously the wind does help if you’re going to play long ball so we looked at it a couple of times but overall we still wanted to play K-State soccer, that’s our identity and that’s what we want to go forward with always.”
Turner also talked about her take away from the start of the Wildcats’ Big 12 action this season so far.
“Obviously it’s a little frustrating how the season has gone a little bit,” Turner said. “Last year, obviously I wasn’t here, but I just know that we had trouble even getting out of our own half, but this year we are competing and getting shots off, it’s honestly very even.”
The Longhorns finished the night with 22 total shots and nine on shots on target. The Wildcats fell short in both total shots at 15 and shots on goal at five.
“We were fighting through tough battles. We were staying urgent and trying to create chances for ourselves. Just unfortunate that we just couldn’t get that lucky bounce,” Dibbini said.
The Wildcats will continue their Big 12 action on the road for two games as they face Oklahoma on Thursday at 7 p.m., and Oklahoma State on Sunday at 1 p.m.
