SE: K-State Soccer Racking Up Miles & Historic Wins
Sep 01, 2021 | Soccer, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
The word Brookelynn Entz used was "grind."
Forget everything that K-State Soccer has done between the touch lines and that's still the story at the end of August.
Last week, the Wildcats headed to Tennessee for a match against Austin Peay on Thursday and a neutral site game against North Alabama the following Sunday. This week, the 'Cats are in Colorado for two matches against Denver and Colorado State, before playing Purdue in Indiana next Thursday.
Five games. Three states. Two weeks.
"We need to get those wins even when it's tough and have that confidence that we really can win," Entz said. "This is going to be a really tough weekend against two teams that could compete in our conference and do really well."
After a 5-0 win over Austin Peay, the Wildcats picked up their second win of the road trip the same way they've crisscrossed time zones this month - by grinding their way to a destination.
"Winning is hard at this level. Winning on the road is even harder. Winning on a Sunday afternoon, in the heat, is ever harder than that," head coach Mike Dibbini said. "To get those results and score those goals, staying focused and disciplined says volumes about our team."
It's the first time in program history the Wildcats have won both matches in a weekend away from Buser Family Park.
Against North Alabama, K-State found a lid on the Lions net - despite a 17-2 shot advantage, the Wildcats seemed like they were headed to overtime in search of back-to-back wins.
Adah Anderson had other ideas.
After K-State switched the play to Aliyah El-Naggar, the Ohio State transfer found Anderson for a shot off the crossbar, before Anderson tucked home the rebound for a 90th-minute winner.
"We had probably seven clear chances among the final five minutes, but we guided home the one that mattered," Dibbini said. "Adah is really confident on the ball and that speaks volumes. She's able to dribble penetrate, find passes and be at the right place at the right time."
Anderson scored twice in K-State's exhibition win over South Dakota State earlier this month, with both goals coming in the final minutes. She's one of four freshmen to play at least 90 minutes for the Wildcats this season, and the first to find the back of the net.
El-Naggar provided the game-winning assist on Sunday, her first of 2021.
After making her K-State debut in the spring and scoring a last-minute equalizer against Missouri, El-Naggar has already racked up three points in the 90th minute or later.
"I feel like we're learning how to play with each other again," she said. "We're able to tell when people want to play a long ball and when people want to go short. Mostly, it's just about being able to point to where we want it or switch the ball, learning how to do that as a team and slowly building the chemistry between us."
Off the field, road trips like this are also different. K-State Soccer spent much of the 2020 season within a COVID-19 bubble, rarely leaving the hotel before matches away from home.
The pandemic is still a factor, but El-Naggar said she's enjoyed getting to know her teammates in a different setting. Karaoke parties on the bus are back, and the Wildcats have more freedom to explore some of the unique destinations on their schedule this season.
"At the end of the trip this weekend, we got to walk around Nashville, so that was really cool. And I was able to see my family when they came out there," she said. "We're able to spend a lot of time together, bond a lot more and become more of a team."
That chemistry has shown up in performances like Thursday's 5-0 win over Austin Peay, the biggest margin of victory for the Wildcats since 2016. Five different K-State players scored, including the first goals as a Wildcat for Jesse Loren and Roo Yarnell-Williams.
And a little bit of history came courtesy of Maddie Weichel, who broke a program record with three assists against the Governors.
"We're going into this weekend with three wins and a bunch of people contributing in different areas," Weichel said. "I think we're excited to get back on the road and compete against these other teams."
The grind might not get any easier – the Wildcats left at 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning for Colorado – but K-State Soccer is cruising away from Buser Family Park.
"We're excited that we've won three games in a row, but we're focused on Denver," Dibbini said. "Not going to sit here and say it's not going to be challenging, but can we get better? We'll challenge each other to focus on staying disciplined defensively and capitalize on our chances."
The word Brookelynn Entz used was "grind."
Forget everything that K-State Soccer has done between the touch lines and that's still the story at the end of August.
Last week, the Wildcats headed to Tennessee for a match against Austin Peay on Thursday and a neutral site game against North Alabama the following Sunday. This week, the 'Cats are in Colorado for two matches against Denver and Colorado State, before playing Purdue in Indiana next Thursday.
Five games. Three states. Two weeks.
"We need to get those wins even when it's tough and have that confidence that we really can win," Entz said. "This is going to be a really tough weekend against two teams that could compete in our conference and do really well."
Next up for K-State (3-1-0): a trip to the ⛰️⛰️⛰️.
— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) August 31, 2021
Thursday - at Denver (8 p.m. CDT)
Sunday - at Colorado St. (1 p.m. CDT)
Learn more about the weekend including how to watch ⤵️
📝 - https://t.co/4ix1s9dTMP#KStateSOC x #RisewithUS21
After a 5-0 win over Austin Peay, the Wildcats picked up their second win of the road trip the same way they've crisscrossed time zones this month - by grinding their way to a destination.
"Winning is hard at this level. Winning on the road is even harder. Winning on a Sunday afternoon, in the heat, is ever harder than that," head coach Mike Dibbini said. "To get those results and score those goals, staying focused and disciplined says volumes about our team."
It's the first time in program history the Wildcats have won both matches in a weekend away from Buser Family Park.
Against North Alabama, K-State found a lid on the Lions net - despite a 17-2 shot advantage, the Wildcats seemed like they were headed to overtime in search of back-to-back wins.
Adah Anderson had other ideas.
After K-State switched the play to Aliyah El-Naggar, the Ohio State transfer found Anderson for a shot off the crossbar, before Anderson tucked home the rebound for a 90th-minute winner.
"We had probably seven clear chances among the final five minutes, but we guided home the one that mattered," Dibbini said. "Adah is really confident on the ball and that speaks volumes. She's able to dribble penetrate, find passes and be at the right place at the right time."
Anderson scored twice in K-State's exhibition win over South Dakota State earlier this month, with both goals coming in the final minutes. She's one of four freshmen to play at least 90 minutes for the Wildcats this season, and the first to find the back of the net.
El-Naggar provided the game-winning assist on Sunday, her first of 2021.
After making her K-State debut in the spring and scoring a last-minute equalizer against Missouri, El-Naggar has already racked up three points in the 90th minute or later.
"I feel like we're learning how to play with each other again," she said. "We're able to tell when people want to play a long ball and when people want to go short. Mostly, it's just about being able to point to where we want it or switch the ball, learning how to do that as a team and slowly building the chemistry between us."
Off the field, road trips like this are also different. K-State Soccer spent much of the 2020 season within a COVID-19 bubble, rarely leaving the hotel before matches away from home.
The pandemic is still a factor, but El-Naggar said she's enjoyed getting to know her teammates in a different setting. Karaoke parties on the bus are back, and the Wildcats have more freedom to explore some of the unique destinations on their schedule this season.
"At the end of the trip this weekend, we got to walk around Nashville, so that was really cool. And I was able to see my family when they came out there," she said. "We're able to spend a lot of time together, bond a lot more and become more of a team."
That chemistry has shown up in performances like Thursday's 5-0 win over Austin Peay, the biggest margin of victory for the Wildcats since 2016. Five different K-State players scored, including the first goals as a Wildcat for Jesse Loren and Roo Yarnell-Williams.
And a little bit of history came courtesy of Maddie Weichel, who broke a program record with three assists against the Governors.
.@maddie_weichel gets her 3rd assist of the night as Aliyah El-Naggar heads it in to put the 'Cats up 4-0 over Austin Peay #KStateSOC x #RiseWithUS21 pic.twitter.com/PQ7TIjilcs
— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) August 28, 2021
"We're going into this weekend with three wins and a bunch of people contributing in different areas," Weichel said. "I think we're excited to get back on the road and compete against these other teams."
The grind might not get any easier – the Wildcats left at 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning for Colorado – but K-State Soccer is cruising away from Buser Family Park.
"We're excited that we've won three games in a row, but we're focused on Denver," Dibbini said. "Not going to sit here and say it's not going to be challenging, but can we get better? We'll challenge each other to focus on staying disciplined defensively and capitalize on our chances."
Players Mentioned
M
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
M
/ Soccer
D/M
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
M/F
/ SoccerK-State Rowing | Media Day
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Rowing | Weights Practice
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Tennis | Weekend Recap vs Old Dominion & Minnesota
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Track and Field | Sights & Sounds Steve Miller Invitational
Monday, February 23
