After pulling off two draws against ranked opponents earlier this season in No. 9 West Virginia and No. 23 Baylor, the Kansas State soccer team looked to go undefeated against ranked opponents in the 2021 season this past Friday as it matched up against No. 11 TCU. However, that wouldn’t be the case as the women lost 3-2.
The Horned Frogs pulled ahead early in the match, with Messiah Bright scoring in the ninth minute, putting TCU ahead 1-0. TCU continued to attack the K-State backline, totaling 12 shots and 5 corners just in the first half. The K-State defense held strong, and the Wildcats made it to halftime without allowing another goal.
After the half, K-State came out firing on all cylinders. Junior Marisa Weichel intercepted a pass deep in TCU territory in the 49th minute and sprinted towards the opposing goal where she slotted the ball past TCU goalkeeper Lauren Kellett to tie the game up for the Wildcats.
Nine minutes later, the Wildcats found another opportunity when another pass was intercepted by the K-State midfield. Marisa Weichel found freshman Adah Anderson who managed to scout out senior Brookelyn Entz in the middle of the field.
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Entz sprinted towards the TCU goal, cut back towards the right and fired a shot just outside the 18-yard box. Entz’s shot soared into the top-right of the TCU goal and gave the Wildcats their first lead against a ranked opponent this season.
The two goals against TCU gave K-State 20 on the season, breaking the previous school record for most goals in a season — set in 2017 — with 18. The Wildcats also recorded six points on the night, increasing the season total to 60 and breaking the previous mark of 55, also set during the 2017 season.
“The goals and points records show the evolution in the program and the overall growth of the talent of the players,” K-State head coach Mike Dibbini said to K-State Athletics about the records. “Being able to set records is really a contribution of all the players working hard, believing, continuing to push forward and trying to get better.”
TCU (14-2-1, 6-1-1 Big 12) brought the game back to a tie in the 66th minute and would re-take the lead two minutes later. The Horned Frogs played stout defense from then on and retained the lead to the end of the match.
K-State (6-9-2, 1-5-2 Big 12) will look to rebound against Iowa State on Thursday in hopes of making the Big 12 tournament at the end of October. The Wildcats will host senior night as K-State honors seniors Emily Crain, Brookelynn Entz, Taylor Gardner and Maguire Sullivan in a post-match ceremony. The match against Iowa State will kick off at 7 p.m. and be available on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
