The 12th-ranked Kansas soccer team had a 12-game unbeaten streak in regular-season nonconference matches snapped on Thursday evening with a 1-0 loss to No. 19 Ohio State at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Senior forward Amanda Schlueter put the Buckeyes ahead in the final minutes of the first half, and OSU goalkeeper Peighton Northrop made six saves on KU’s 14 total shots to preserve a clean sheet.
Schlueter capitalized on an error in the Jayhawks’ back end. An overly casual backward pass from KU sophomore Lydia Viets brought freshman defender Gianna Weiner forward, and Schlueter successfully deflected Weiner’s attempt to return the pass, won control of the ball and lobbed a shot over Sophie Dawe as KU conceded for the first time all season.
Dawe had five saves of her own as Ohio State attempted 12 shots in the match. Defender Caroline Castans also made a key stop in the 65th minute, but it was for naught as KU fell to 2-1 on the year. Ohio State improved to 1-0-1 after having opened its season with a road draw at Clemson.
Midfielder Jillian Gregorski led KU with four shots, two of which were on target. Jordan Rowan took two shots, as did Ava Bramblett and Elle Britt for Ohio State. Gregorski and KU midfielder Marit McLaughlin received yellow cards in the second half.
The Jayhawks will remain in the Buckeye State to face Kent State on Sunday at 12 p.m. Central time. The Golden Flashes, picked fifth in the MAC in the preseason, are 1-1-1 after tying with Youngstown State on Thursday night.
