KU soccer draws, 2-all

By Staff Reports Aug 17, 2015

John Young

Kansas' Lois Heuchan (2) and Grace Hagan celebrate Hagan's second goal of the first half while North Dakota State players look on during their exhibition soccer match Sunday at Rock Chalk Park. The Jayhawks and the Bison played to a 2-2 tie. The Jayhawks start the season on the road with four straight away games beginning in Lincoln, Neb. against Nebraska on Friday, Aug. 21. Kansas then returns to Rock Chalk Park to host Santa Clara in its home opener on Friday, Sept. 4, at 5 p.m.

Kansas University freshman Grace Hagan scored a pair of goals to help the No. 23-ranked Jayhawks to a 2-2 exhibition draw with North Dakota State on Sunday at Rock Chalk Park.

“I didn’t think we were as sharp as we needed to be today,” KU coach Mark Francis said following his team’s final exhibition of 2015. “We had 33 shots, and 11 of them were on target. When that happens, you should probably have more than two goals. We weren’t as efficient in the attacking third as I thought we should have been, but that’s why we have these exhibitions. It gives us a chance to figure out who needs to play where and what areas we need to adjust.”

Hagan gave KU a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute, but the Jayhawks were held without another goal for most of the remainder of the first half despite 19 shots, five on goal.

The Bison knotted it at 1 with just over 15 minutes left before break, but Hagan struck again just before the halftime horn sounded for a 2-1 KU lead.

NDSU scored the tying goal in the 64th minute.

Kansas will open the regular season at 7 p.m. Friday at Nebraska.