SE: K-State Soccer Shows Off Offensive Depth, Builds Confidence in Perfect Opening Weekend
Aug 20, 2018 | Soccer, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
K-State women's soccer head coach Mike Dibbini has more offensive options to work with this season. That much was clear in his team's 2-0-0 opening weekend, as was the team's growing confidence from it.
The Wildcats topped Saint Louis, 1-0, on Friday to start the program's third season of existence. For reference, Saint Louis finished last season 15-3-2 and was picked to win the Atlantic 10 Conference this year.
K-State followed it with a 4-0 rout of Oakland on Sunday, completing the program's first perfect two-match start to a season.
"I think (Friday's win) gave us a lot of confidence. We were all ready to go today," junior forward Katie Cramer said on Sunday. "The energy was there and everybody was on today."
"It gave us high hopes," freshman forward Chloe Fisher added of Friday's victory. "Obviously it's only our third year but we have a lot of positives to go on. I'm looking forward to it."
One of those positives? Five different Wildcats scored goals on the weekend, a product of what Dibbini believes should be one strength of this year's team.
"We just have so many types of forwards that I can rotate in, depending on each game. They're all deceptive and they all play differently. That can help and allow us to throw different types of looks at teams," he said. "I think because of that it allows us to go at them in numbers, go at them in spurts of 15-, 20-minute segments. I'm probably guessing (Oakland) was, like, 'When is this going to slow down?' Well, we have fresh legs coming off that can do the same thing."
That thing: Create offense.
After a slow start against Saint Louis the Wildcats controlled the second half. K-State's mixture of weapons helped them record seven shots and six on goal in the final 45 minutes on Friday to Saint Louis' three shots and zero on goal.
On Sunday, K-State got going from the start. The Wildcats outshot Oakland 27-4, including tying a school record for shots on goal with 13. Meanwhile, the Golden Grizzlies managed just two. Also, 10 different Wildcats recorded at least one shot on goal.
"We just felt like once we started to go forward we started to get into a rhythm, so from the get-go, as soon as we went forward then it would set us up and it did," Fisher said of Sunday's performance. "We were attacking the whole game and putting a lot of pressure on them."
"We've made great strides," Cramer added of the offense. "We have our own kind of way of playing. Last year, I think it was a lot of us conforming to how other teams would play and this year we have our own swag, our own thing. You're confident with the girl next to you and that makes a big difference."
Senior midfielder Morgan Mauck netted the game-winner against Saint Louis, capitalizing on a loose ball bouncing near her after a corner kick.
Fisher put K-State on the board first on Sunday. As a mass of players crashed at the net on K-State's seventh corner kick of the first half, the native of England intentionally sat back in the box in case the ball was weakly cleared. Sure enough, the ball was sent right back to her and she rifled a low shot in the left side for her first career goal.
Sophomore forwards Hannah Davis and Brookelynn Entz showed off some of their offensive abilities and chemistry next. Entz, from about midfield, threaded a lengthy through pass perfectly to Davis on the right side. Davis took care of the rest, bulleting a left-footed shot by the goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead.
Less than 10 minutes later, Cramer joined in on the scoring effort. The Wichita native dribbled between an Oakland defender's legs right before entering the box. Cramer then fired a shot off the goalkeeper and into the air in front of the net, where her momentum carried her to finish off the impressive run with a right-footed poke.
Cramer found Christina Baxter with open space about 15 minutes later. Baxter, a sophomore forward, finessed a right-footed shot above the goalkeeper's reach and just below the crossbar to put the finishing touches on K-State's second win.
"I think one big difference is we weren't out there playing individually. We were willing to make that extra pass to get more goals and that just says how much more of a team than we were last year. That's exciting," Cramer said, as K-State will host Drake on Thursday at 7 p.m. "I've been here from the beginning and going into (week two) with a winning record, that's a special feeling."
"The main thing was to get off to a good start this season and then (build on) it. I think we've started off in the best way possible," Fisher added. "This is a great boost."
K-State women's soccer head coach Mike Dibbini has more offensive options to work with this season. That much was clear in his team's 2-0-0 opening weekend, as was the team's growing confidence from it.
The Wildcats topped Saint Louis, 1-0, on Friday to start the program's third season of existence. For reference, Saint Louis finished last season 15-3-2 and was picked to win the Atlantic 10 Conference this year.
K-State followed it with a 4-0 rout of Oakland on Sunday, completing the program's first perfect two-match start to a season.
"I think (Friday's win) gave us a lot of confidence. We were all ready to go today," junior forward Katie Cramer said on Sunday. "The energy was there and everybody was on today."
"It gave us high hopes," freshman forward Chloe Fisher added of Friday's victory. "Obviously it's only our third year but we have a lot of positives to go on. I'm looking forward to it."
One of those positives? Five different Wildcats scored goals on the weekend, a product of what Dibbini believes should be one strength of this year's team.
"We just have so many types of forwards that I can rotate in, depending on each game. They're all deceptive and they all play differently. That can help and allow us to throw different types of looks at teams," he said. "I think because of that it allows us to go at them in numbers, go at them in spurts of 15-, 20-minute segments. I'm probably guessing (Oakland) was, like, 'When is this going to slow down?' Well, we have fresh legs coming off that can do the same thing."
That thing: Create offense.
After a slow start against Saint Louis the Wildcats controlled the second half. K-State's mixture of weapons helped them record seven shots and six on goal in the final 45 minutes on Friday to Saint Louis' three shots and zero on goal.
On Sunday, K-State got going from the start. The Wildcats outshot Oakland 27-4, including tying a school record for shots on goal with 13. Meanwhile, the Golden Grizzlies managed just two. Also, 10 different Wildcats recorded at least one shot on goal.
"We just felt like once we started to go forward we started to get into a rhythm, so from the get-go, as soon as we went forward then it would set us up and it did," Fisher said of Sunday's performance. "We were attacking the whole game and putting a lot of pressure on them."
"We've made great strides," Cramer added of the offense. "We have our own kind of way of playing. Last year, I think it was a lot of us conforming to how other teams would play and this year we have our own swag, our own thing. You're confident with the girl next to you and that makes a big difference."
Senior midfielder Morgan Mauck netted the game-winner against Saint Louis, capitalizing on a loose ball bouncing near her after a corner kick.
Fisher put K-State on the board first on Sunday. As a mass of players crashed at the net on K-State's seventh corner kick of the first half, the native of England intentionally sat back in the box in case the ball was weakly cleared. Sure enough, the ball was sent right back to her and she rifled a low shot in the left side for her first career goal.
#KStateSOC's Chloe Fisher puts the 'Cats up 1-0 over Oakland as she finds the back of the net from 16yds out for his first career goal! ???? pic.twitter.com/EMAppa2yXQ
— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) August 19, 2018
Sophomore forwards Hannah Davis and Brookelynn Entz showed off some of their offensive abilities and chemistry next. Entz, from about midfield, threaded a lengthy through pass perfectly to Davis on the right side. Davis took care of the rest, bulleting a left-footed shot by the goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead.
Less than 10 minutes later, Cramer joined in on the scoring effort. The Wichita native dribbled between an Oakland defender's legs right before entering the box. Cramer then fired a shot off the goalkeeper and into the air in front of the net, where her momentum carried her to finish off the impressive run with a right-footed poke.
And what did Katie see that led to her goal in the 61'? ???? pic.twitter.com/ZoHCI8KjiJ
— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) August 19, 2018
Cramer found Christina Baxter with open space about 15 minutes later. Baxter, a sophomore forward, finessed a right-footed shot above the goalkeeper's reach and just below the crossbar to put the finishing touches on K-State's second win.
1??,2??,3??, now 4?? goals by the 'Cats! Christina Baxter finds the net on the assist from Katie Cramer. ????#KStateSOC pic.twitter.com/f30uIOouoj
— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) August 19, 2018
"I think one big difference is we weren't out there playing individually. We were willing to make that extra pass to get more goals and that just says how much more of a team than we were last year. That's exciting," Cramer said, as K-State will host Drake on Thursday at 7 p.m. "I've been here from the beginning and going into (week two) with a winning record, that's a special feeling."
"The main thing was to get off to a good start this season and then (build on) it. I think we've started off in the best way possible," Fisher added. "This is a great boost."
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