The soccer team dominated Oklahoma to get their first win of the season on Friday night. The 3-0 victory is the first home Big 12 Conference shutout win and the third conference win in program history.
“We are finally figuring out how to play together,” Kansas State head coach Mike Dibbini said to K-State Sports. “We are figuring out our rotations defensively. And offensively, they just bought in this week. We returned to just loving the game this week, playing loose and having that mentality all week. This was a great week of practice. It’s just a great feeling right now.”
The Sooners (0-3-1) and Wildcats (1-4) both entered the matchup looking to get their first win of the season.
Offensive struggles loomed over K-State this season, having only one goal through four matches headed into the contest with Oklahoma. The three goals in Friday’s match is the first time K-State scored three goals in a match since 2018.
Freshman goalkeeper Alaina Werremeyer held the Sooners at bay. The Sooners finished with 11 shots in the match, but the Kansas City native stood her ground to record her first career shutout, saving all four shots on goal.
Werremeyer gave credit to her defense for limiting the Sooner scoring chances.
“They were amazing, they made my job so easy tonight,” Werremeyer said. “I was so proud of the girls in front of me. They worked their butts off today.”
The Wildcats pushed the tempo early in the match following a 7-0 loss to Texas last Friday. K-State finished the first half with three total shots, two of which on goal.
K-State scored in the third minute of the match off a corner from sophomore defender Silke Bonnen, headed in by sophomore defender Shae Turner to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead early. The goal was the first in two matches for K-State.
Related:
ANALYSIS: Wildcats still a strong team after loss of two key players
The Wildcats put the ball in the back of the net three minutes later, but it was taken off the board after the pass that led to the would-be goal was ruled out of bounds, giving Oklahoma a goal kick.
K-State added to its lead with a goal in the twenty-third minute by sophomore forward Kyler Goins on an assist by freshman forward Maddie Weichel. The breakaway goal through the legs of OU senior goalkeeper Nikki Panas is Goin’s first goal at K-State.
The Sooners gained momentum late in the first half with two corners in the final two minutes, but could not convert. Oklahoma finished the first half with three total shots, one being on goal.
The Wildcats had back to back set-piece opportunities in the 66th minute with a free-kick just outside the 18-yard box. A handball on the free-kick gave the Wildcats a penalty kick and an opportunity to take a commanding lead. Senior midfielder Brookelynn Entz buried the opportunity to give K-State a 3-0 lead.
“I think that is something our team has never had to do before,” Entz said. “We don’t know how to finish games, and we did that tonight. We talked about it in the locker room at halftime that 2-0 is the most dangerous lead in soccer, and we wanted to come out and get the next goal, and we did.”
The Sooners outshot the Wildcats 11-6, but K-State cashed in on their limited opportunities. This is the twenty-first shutout in the history of the program and the first conference shutout since 2017.
K-State travels to Waco for a matchup against Baylor next Thursday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
