Rather than the Missouri Tigers celebrating an NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament second-round victory on their home pitch, it was Kansas University’s players moshing at midfield in ecstasy after punting archrival Mizzou from postseason play, 2-0.

About 300 screaming KU fans hollered from the stands as the Jayhawks danced on the Tigers’ turf and celebrated their Sweet 16 berth.

Senior Maggie Mason climbed a fence to hug her dad.

Then if was off to shave coach Mark Francis’ head.

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo

Kansas will next play UCLA either Friday or Saturday in Los Angeles. Game time will be announced today.

The postgame festivities might seem a bit overdrawn, but were understandable considering how hard the Jayhawks had to fight for this one.

“The whole game we felt like we were still in control, even though we didn’t get a lot of chances,” said sophomore Caroline Smith, whose 19th goal of the season proved to be the game-winner. “I don’t think we ever felt like we weren’t going to get the chances. It was just a matter of being patient.”

Missouri (12-11-1) played much tougher than it did a month ago when Kansas also won 2-0, and Francis said he expected as much.

“Going into the game, I told the girls, ‘We’re the underdog in this game. We’re playing against a team that’s playing really well, that had a great run in the conference tournament, playing on their own field. We’re going into this game as the underdog,'” Francis said. “That was kind of how we looked at it.”

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo

Kansas (18-5-1) looked like the underdog in the first half as it was held to four shots. Six different Tigers fired shots, and the KU defense was beat frequently. Missouri failed to convert on four open-field breakaways, largely because of brilliant play from goalkeeper Meghan Miller.

“They knew we weren’t playing well,” Francis said of his halftime discussion with the team. “We were getting beat to the ball a little bit. We looked a little nervous. It was nothing complicated. It was just simple things that we weren’t doing, and I think in the second half we did a really good job on those things.”

Specifically, Francis said he wanted his players to make quicker passes, hustle more and play smarter. The message was heard loud and clear.

A rejuvenated Jayhawk squad controlled the tempo throughout the second half and became the more dominant team. The KU defense allowed Missouri just one shot in the second half, while the offense peppered Missouri goalkeeper Megan Duncan with shots.

Freshman Holly Gault got it started by nailing the crossbar from 30 yards away, and the shots kept coming.

Finally, Smith broke through. In the 78th minute, junior Rachel Gilfillan corralled a loose ball off of a corner kick. She found Smith hiding next to the far post for the easy score.

Senior Carmel Kaplinger iced the game with a breakaway goal in the 89th minute, setting off the wild celebration.

“I think it just raises the level for the future,” KU junior defender Stacy Leeper said. “It shows people that we’re not here just to be here any more. Kansas soccer is about winning, and we’re going to go as far as we can.”