The Kansas soccer team had managed just one goal in its previous eight matches; it scored two Monday night in its last game of the season.
Raena Childers seized on a pass from Shira Elinav and drove in a sliding effort to open the scoring early, then Jocelyn Herrema sent an off-balance shot across her body and into the back of the net late for her first career goal. Kansas State gained some small consolation on a last-minute long-distance strike by Khaliana Garrett, but the remaining 11 seconds ticked off the clock and KU won the Sunflower Showdown on its senior night, 2-1.
“I was just really happy for the group with the way they were so resilient this year,” KU coach Mark Francis said in a press release. “Regardless of the result, the next game they came out and competed. We were in every game we played in this year. I’m super proud of the resilience of the group and the way they were able to bounce back game after game.”
The Jayhawks doubled up the Wildcats with 18 shots, including nine on goal, but unlike in some recent conference games they converted those shots into a lead. Meanwhile, KU goalie Melania Pasar was needed for just one save in 89-plus minutes of action. The Jayhawks gave redshirt senior Gabbie Dawe her collegiate debut in goal in her last game ever, but she fell victim to the well-placed high-arcing strike by Garrett (who, like Herrema, earned her first career goal).
Other seniors bidding farewell to Rock Chalk Park on Monday included Mackenzie Boeve, Kate Dreyer, Shira Elinav, Moira Kelley, Pasar and Brie Severns.
Lexi Watts had a team-high five shots for KU, while Elinav and Childers each put two of their three shots on goal. Andra Mohler was the only player with three shots for K-State.
The Jayhawks finished the year with a record of 4-8-6 (1-7-2 in Big 12 Conference play). In beating K-State (3-12-1, 1-8-1 Big 12), they made it out of last place in the league, consigning the Wildcats to that position.
Angilo Allen/Kansas Athletics
