KU soccer blanks Drake

By Staff Reports Aug 13, 2015

John Young

Surrounded by Drake defenders Kylie DeHaven (6) and Rhian Pritchard (8), Kansas freshman Parker Roberts uses her head to send the ball into the back of the net on a corner kick during Kansas' 5-0 shutout win over Drake on Wednesday evening at Rock Chalk Park. The match against the Bulldogs was the first of two exhibition matches the Jayhawks will play before they open the season at Nebraska on Aug. 21.

Senior Ashley Williams swiped a poorly played ball by the opposing goalkeeper and slammed it into an open net less than six minutes into the match to key Kansas University to a 5-0 rout of Drake in a college soccer exhibition match Wednesday night at Rock Chalk Park.

Kansas scored all five of its goals in the first half of its first of two exhibitions.

“We did a lot of things well tonight, but what I was most impressed with was our mentality,” KU coach Mark Francis said. “We moved the ball well, and I thought our defense was really solid, especially since we had a few people sitting out tonight. We still have some things we need to straighten out, but tonight was definitely a good start for us.”

Coming off an All-Big 12 season in 2014, Williams added another goal, assisted by freshman Parker Roberts, from 25 yards out 15 minutes after her first goal.

Roberts was on the receiving end of a great pass five minutes later, and she was also able to convert a head-turning goal. Fellow freshman Anna Courtney corralled a long pass downfield and sent a low, stinging cross into the Drake box. Roberts took the ball in stride and scored from 10 yards out.

John Young

Kansas' Parker Roberts, left, Grace Hagan (25) and Courtney Dickerson (24) are all smiles as they celebrate a goal by Roberts during their 5-0 shutout win over Drake on Wednesday evening at Rock Chalk Park. The match against the Bulldogs was the first of two exhibition matches the Jayhawks will play before they open the season at Nebraska on Aug. 21.

Williams assisted on another Roberts goal less than two minutes later for a 4-0 KU lead.

Senior Courtney Dickerson completed the scoring when she collected a pass from freshman Bailey Bravard near the top of the 18-yard box, then unleashed a shot toward the far post, which the Drake keeper had little chance of saving. Dickerson’s attempt soared through in the 41st minute.

Three Jayhawk goalkeepers saw action in the match, each playing 30-minute spans. Sophomore Maddie Dobyns was the starting keeper and was followed by red-shirt freshman Lauren Breshears and true freshman Regan Gibbs. All three managed to collect one save and combine for the shutout.

Kansas outshot the Bulldogs 25-8 and held the edge in shots on goal, 12-3. Kansas also managed to amass 10 corner kicks on the night, compared to just one for Drake.

KU will host North Dakota State at 1 p.m. Sunday at RCP, then travel to Nebraska for its regular-season opener on Aug. 21.