Kansas State University Athletics
Thursday, August 19
Manhattan, Kan.
7 p.m.
Kansas State University
0-1-0, 0-0-0
0
vs
2
Weber State
1-0-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Weber St.
1
1
2
Kansas St.
0
0
0
K-State Drops 2021 Season-Opener
Aug 19, 2021 | Soccer
MANHATTAN, Kansas – Playing in front of a boisterous opening night crowd of 1,556 fans at Buser Family Park, K-State registered 20 shots but were unable to find the netting as Weber State downed the Wildcats, 2-0, on Thursday night.
"It's a tough one," said K-State head coach Mike Dibbini. "I thought early on we played some good soccer, but didn't get one in the back of the net. We had some chances early on, and then we kind of fumbled. They got the one that they needed. The adjustments they made were really good. Our phases of play were inconsistent. The bright spots, some of our freshmen stepped up and did some good things. It's a long season, and this is not going to define us. We're just going to get back to work and be ready on Sunday."
With the 20 total shots, K-State (0-1-0) held the advantage by six in the category (20-14) and put seven on frame to Weber State's five. The 20 shot attempts on Thursday night marked the most since K-State registered 20 against Tulsa on September 15, 2019.
Kansas State threatened to open the scoring in the 10th minute. Junior Aliyah El-Naggar was played in by a Porter List pass. El-Naggar gathered the ball with Weber State goalkeeper Kaytlin Bradley off-balance on her line. El-Naggar's left-footed blast was barely deflected away from the Weber State from by a defender.
In the 29th minute, K-State found another strong threat extinguished. Caylee Thornhill, playing her first match since October 2, 2020, drew the attention of the defender and brought the keeper off her line with an attack. With the goal mouth open, Thornhill found freshman Riley Baker at the left post with a low pass. Baker was quickly surrounded by Weber State defenders and unable to fire a shot.
"I think it's just putting away the chances we had," said K-State senior Brookelynn Entz. "We had lots of chances to put the game away early. We let a team like that stay in the game and they gained more confidence and we saw what happened. They scored on their first shot on goal. I think after that we panicked a little bit, got out of our game and we were trailing. We can't let that happen. We have to be on the front foot and score early and put away our opportunities early."
Weber State (1-0-0) took advantage in the 31st minute. Lauren McConnell was played into the 18-yard box on a through ball from Brynlee Meyerhoffer. McConnell attempted a right-footed shot from a strange angle on the right side of the box and found the far upper left corner.
Weber State added an insurance goal in the 62nd minute, as K-State attempted to clear a Weber State corner kick from the box. Amy Kenney bounced the ball off her head and found Morgan Furmaniak who finished the second tally.
K-State put pressure on Weber State in the final 15 minutes with a pair of corner kicks. The Wildcats ended the night with a 6-2 edge in corner kicks. Entz and junior Kyler Goins fired shots in the last two minutes which were on frame but Bradley made saves on both.
K-State will wrap up the opening weekend of action on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., as the Wildcats host Omaha at Buser Family Park. Sunday's match is Youth Sports Day, as kids will receive a medal and can take part in K-State Olympics activities. For tickets, contact the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS, visit kstatesports.com/tickets or purchase at the Buser Family Park ticket windows.
Sunday's match will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
What They Said
MIKE DIBBINI, HEAD COACH
On the loss…
"It's a tough one. I thought early on we played some good soccer, but didn't get one in the back of the net. We had some chances early on, and then we kind of fumbled. They got the one that they needed. The adjustments they made were really good. Our phases of play were inconsistent. The bright spots, some of our freshmen stepped up and did some good things. It's a long season, and this is not going to define us. We're just going to get back to work and be ready on Sunday."Â
Â
On the Weber State adjustments…
"Their formation wasn't what we scouted all week. It threw us a curveball from our preparation and what we expected. We had to make adjustments at half, which we did. We had a lot of good opportunities. They just threw us a curveball. We still continued to battle through it. This game at this level, winning is very hard. If we score our opportunity early on, the game can go in so many different ways."Â
Â
On giving up the first goal after having so many opportunities…
"It was a gut check for sure. We've been there before. We didn't panic. We thought we were going to get our opportunities. We had a couple of opportunities, clear looks. We just couldn't convert."Â
Â
BROOKELYNN ENTZ, SENIOR MIDFIELDER
On not getting a goal despite so many shots...
"Yeah, I think it's just putting away the chances we had. We had lots of chances to put the game away early. We let a team like that stay in the game and they gained more confidence and we saw what happened. They scored on their first shot on goal. I think after that we panicked a little bit, got out of our game and we were trailing. We can't let that happen. We have to be on the front foot and score early and put away our opportunities early."Â
On the crowd…
"The crowd was amazing. I was saying before the game that we need to win for our fans. They all showed up for us and are supporting us. I really wish we could win for them. I hope they keep coming back and that they see what this team is doing this year. I do think we're playing some really good soccer, and I think the wins are going to come."Â
On forcing shots after falling behind…
"I think a little bit, yeah. We were trying to get more shots off and more shots on goal. We know we have to shoot to score. Maybe we were forcing shots a little bit, but at least we were getting to the goal and getting those shots on goal. We need to increase the quality of our shots and put the ones away when we're in front of the goal."Â
ALAINA WERREMEYER, SOPHOMORE GOALKEEPER
On Weber State's first goal...
"It was a beautiful shot. That's why we love the game of soccer. Kudos to her. That was amazing. That's why people come and watch soccer. It was a great shot"Â
On the defensive communication...
"Defensively, communication was good. Our back line, as a unit, is working incredibly well. Obviously we have new personnel. We have young girls. We have older girls. It's a learning process, but my back line was steady tonight."Â
On where the breakdowns came from...
"We just got broken down on through balls, tracking people out of the middle. Little things, technical things going forward that we can work on as a team. It's a young team, and we're trying girls at different places and new girls at different places, and that's the beauty of having a long preseason to be able to do that. Just have to iron out the little details."Â
Â
"It's a tough one," said K-State head coach Mike Dibbini. "I thought early on we played some good soccer, but didn't get one in the back of the net. We had some chances early on, and then we kind of fumbled. They got the one that they needed. The adjustments they made were really good. Our phases of play were inconsistent. The bright spots, some of our freshmen stepped up and did some good things. It's a long season, and this is not going to define us. We're just going to get back to work and be ready on Sunday."
With the 20 total shots, K-State (0-1-0) held the advantage by six in the category (20-14) and put seven on frame to Weber State's five. The 20 shot attempts on Thursday night marked the most since K-State registered 20 against Tulsa on September 15, 2019.
Kansas State threatened to open the scoring in the 10th minute. Junior Aliyah El-Naggar was played in by a Porter List pass. El-Naggar gathered the ball with Weber State goalkeeper Kaytlin Bradley off-balance on her line. El-Naggar's left-footed blast was barely deflected away from the Weber State from by a defender.
In the 29th minute, K-State found another strong threat extinguished. Caylee Thornhill, playing her first match since October 2, 2020, drew the attention of the defender and brought the keeper off her line with an attack. With the goal mouth open, Thornhill found freshman Riley Baker at the left post with a low pass. Baker was quickly surrounded by Weber State defenders and unable to fire a shot.
"I think it's just putting away the chances we had," said K-State senior Brookelynn Entz. "We had lots of chances to put the game away early. We let a team like that stay in the game and they gained more confidence and we saw what happened. They scored on their first shot on goal. I think after that we panicked a little bit, got out of our game and we were trailing. We can't let that happen. We have to be on the front foot and score early and put away our opportunities early."
Weber State (1-0-0) took advantage in the 31st minute. Lauren McConnell was played into the 18-yard box on a through ball from Brynlee Meyerhoffer. McConnell attempted a right-footed shot from a strange angle on the right side of the box and found the far upper left corner.
Weber State added an insurance goal in the 62nd minute, as K-State attempted to clear a Weber State corner kick from the box. Amy Kenney bounced the ball off her head and found Morgan Furmaniak who finished the second tally.
K-State put pressure on Weber State in the final 15 minutes with a pair of corner kicks. The Wildcats ended the night with a 6-2 edge in corner kicks. Entz and junior Kyler Goins fired shots in the last two minutes which were on frame but Bradley made saves on both.
K-State will wrap up the opening weekend of action on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., as the Wildcats host Omaha at Buser Family Park. Sunday's match is Youth Sports Day, as kids will receive a medal and can take part in K-State Olympics activities. For tickets, contact the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS, visit kstatesports.com/tickets or purchase at the Buser Family Park ticket windows.
Sunday's match will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
What They Said
MIKE DIBBINI, HEAD COACH
On the loss…
"It's a tough one. I thought early on we played some good soccer, but didn't get one in the back of the net. We had some chances early on, and then we kind of fumbled. They got the one that they needed. The adjustments they made were really good. Our phases of play were inconsistent. The bright spots, some of our freshmen stepped up and did some good things. It's a long season, and this is not going to define us. We're just going to get back to work and be ready on Sunday."Â
Â
On the Weber State adjustments…
"Their formation wasn't what we scouted all week. It threw us a curveball from our preparation and what we expected. We had to make adjustments at half, which we did. We had a lot of good opportunities. They just threw us a curveball. We still continued to battle through it. This game at this level, winning is very hard. If we score our opportunity early on, the game can go in so many different ways."Â
Â
On giving up the first goal after having so many opportunities…
"It was a gut check for sure. We've been there before. We didn't panic. We thought we were going to get our opportunities. We had a couple of opportunities, clear looks. We just couldn't convert."Â
Â
BROOKELYNN ENTZ, SENIOR MIDFIELDER
On not getting a goal despite so many shots...
"Yeah, I think it's just putting away the chances we had. We had lots of chances to put the game away early. We let a team like that stay in the game and they gained more confidence and we saw what happened. They scored on their first shot on goal. I think after that we panicked a little bit, got out of our game and we were trailing. We can't let that happen. We have to be on the front foot and score early and put away our opportunities early."Â
On the crowd…
"The crowd was amazing. I was saying before the game that we need to win for our fans. They all showed up for us and are supporting us. I really wish we could win for them. I hope they keep coming back and that they see what this team is doing this year. I do think we're playing some really good soccer, and I think the wins are going to come."Â
On forcing shots after falling behind…
"I think a little bit, yeah. We were trying to get more shots off and more shots on goal. We know we have to shoot to score. Maybe we were forcing shots a little bit, but at least we were getting to the goal and getting those shots on goal. We need to increase the quality of our shots and put the ones away when we're in front of the goal."Â
ALAINA WERREMEYER, SOPHOMORE GOALKEEPER
On Weber State's first goal...
"It was a beautiful shot. That's why we love the game of soccer. Kudos to her. That was amazing. That's why people come and watch soccer. It was a great shot"Â
On the defensive communication...
"Defensively, communication was good. Our back line, as a unit, is working incredibly well. Obviously we have new personnel. We have young girls. We have older girls. It's a learning process, but my back line was steady tonight."Â
On where the breakdowns came from...
"We just got broken down on through balls, tracking people out of the middle. Little things, technical things going forward that we can work on as a team. It's a young team, and we're trying girls at different places and new girls at different places, and that's the beauty of having a long preseason to be able to do that. Just have to iron out the little details."Â
Â
Team Stats
Weber
KState
Goals
2
0
Shots
14
20
Shots on Goal
5
7
Saves
7
3
Corners
2
6
Fouls
8
6
Scoring Plays
Lauren McConnell (1)
Assisted By: Brynlee Meyerhoffer
GOAL by Weber McConnell, Lauren Assist by Meyerhoffer, Brynlee.
30:47
Morgan Furmaniak (1)
Assisted By: Amy Kenney
GOAL by Weber Furmaniak, Morgan Assist by Kenney, Amy.
61:05
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ SoccerD
/ SoccerM
/ SoccerF
/ SoccerM/F
/ Soccer
MF
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