The Kansas soccer team finished its nonconference slate unbeaten by grinding out a 3-2 victory over Liberty on Sunday in Lynchburg, Virginia.
“Two good teams battling, knew it was going to be a tough game, knew it wasn’t going to be the most aesthetically pleasing game,” KU coach Nate Lie said in a video posted on social media. “Hopefully two teams that might represent well in the conference and into the NCAA Tournament, but again, just very happy, proud, thankful, grateful for our group and their willingness to compete and handle this travel.”
KU took an early advantage on junior defender Olivia Page’s first career goal, then responded to Liberty’s quick equalizer with tallies by Mary Sola and Jillian Gregorski.
The Flames made things interesting when Ivy Garner fended off Molly Shepherd and sent a low cross past Page’s outstretched left foot that Halle Engle finished for a goal. But the Jayhawks successfully expended the final seven minutes of action to seal the win.
“Liberty put us up against it that last 15, 20 minutes,” Lie said, “but really proud of the team in making it to the finish line and getting that victory.”
The victory moved KU, which ranks No. 15 in the TopDrawerSoccer poll and No. 21 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, to 6-0-2 on the year ahead of Thursday night’s conference opener on the road at Oklahoma State. This is the first time in program history that KU has gone undefeated in nonconference play.
The Jayhawks outshot the Flames 17-9, with 13 of KU’s shots on target, necessitating six saves from Liberty goalkeeper Grace Workman and four more from her halftime replacement, Peyton Huber. A dozen Jayhawks took at least one shot. KU’s Sophie Dawe conceded twice with two saves.
Garner and KU’s Saige Wimes each recorded two assists on the day.
KU had already forced two saves by Workman when it earned a corner kick in the ninth minute. Jillian Gregorski’s first attempt was not cleared well by Liberty, and Workman had to leap to deflect a second effort by Wimes. However, Workman’s parry tapped off the crossbar and right to Page, who sent it directly into the back of the net.
The Flames responded soon afterward via Gabby Miranda, who broke uncovered through KU’s defense and had her first effort stopped by Dawe. Her rebound, though, got past the keeper and a Jayhawk on the goal line was not able to clear it away.
Sola, the goal-scoring hero in KU’s draw with No. 2 Florida State, added her second goal of the year in the 27th minute on a low shot past Workman, assisted by Jocelyn Herrema. The Jayhawks entered the break up 2-1.
They doubled their advantage soon afterward when Huber made a diving save on Wimes, but Gregorski stretched to get her right foot to the ball and into the net from point-blank range.
“I thought we played relatively well for long stretches of the game, but we lost control and we gave Liberty energy, and they went and got it,” Lie said.
KU did not get a shot on target for half an hour of game time after Livvy Moore’s attempt that closely followed Gregorski’s goal. Emika Kawagishi added one shortly after Liberty made it 3-2, and the Flames did not get another chance on goal in the remaining minutes. Time ran out before Liberty could attempt a corner kick that it had forced with four seconds remaining.
Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World
