Just three days after the heartbreaking loss in their season opener, the Kansas State (1-1-0) soccer team turned things around to secure a victory over Omaha (1-1-0) Sunday afternoon at Buser Family Park.
The Wildcats came out of the gates with a strong, unrelenting attack which paid off in the seventh minute when K-State secured a corner kick. As the ball was crossed in, a shot by senior midfielder Brookelynn Entz was blocked. The rebound fell to junior forward Marisa Weichel, who managed to put the ball into the back of the Omaha net for her first goal in a Wildcat uniform.
“It was a great ball played in and everyone was trying to get a piece of it,” Weichel said to K-State Athletics after the game. “I kind of blacked out it happened so fast, but I think the goalie got a piece of it and I just ran to the ball and got a goal. We needed it after our last game, we needed this win and we were all working hard and really wanted to win.”
Ready. Set. Goal. @MarisaWeichel putting K-State up early! #KStateSOC x #RiseWithUS21 pic.twitter.com/a3F8YBIVk8
— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) August 22, 2021
K-State kept up its endless assault throughout the first half, taking 16 shots towards the Mavericks’ goal compared to the five that Omaha put up against the Wildcats.
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The constant attacks led to an Omaha mistake in the 43rd minute when goalkeeper Mia Reedtz came out to stop a Wildcat counter-attack. Leaving the 18-yard box, Reedtz came out to defend a shot from Entz, but the shot hit her arm, causing the referees to call for a handball. Reedtz was sent to the sideline for the rest of the game, forcing Omaha to finish the match with 10 players.
While both teams saw a few chances in the second half, neither team hit the net, giving the Wildcats their first win of the season and the third career shutout for sophomore goalkeeper Peyton Pearson.
“A really good win for us, we needed that obviously from a tough loss on Thursday night,” K-State head coach said Mike Dibbini to K-State Athletics about Sunday’s victory. “We showed good character, responded well, and scored a goal early in the match.”
After spending two matches at home, the Wildcats will take a 1-1-0 record on a five-game road trip to face Austin Peay, North Alabama, Denver, Colorado State and Purdue before returning to face Indiana at Buser Family Park on Sept. 12.
