Kansas State University Athletics
Thursday, September 23
Manhattan, Kan.
7 p.m.
Kansas State University
5-5-0, 0-1-0
0
vs
2
Texas
5-3-2, 1-0-0
1
2
F
Texas
2
0
2
Kansas St.
0
0
0
K-State Drops Big 12 Opener to Longhorns
Sep 23, 2021 | Soccer
MANHATTAN, Kansas – K-State opened the Big 12 portion of its 2021 schedule on Thursday night at Buser Family Park, but the Longhorns used a pair of first half goals to down the Wildcats, 2-0.
"I saw a lot of bright spots," said K-State head coach Mike Dibbini about Thursday's performance. "I think our backline did a really nice job. I think if the midfield played a little bit more physical in the first half, the game could've gone either way. I think we lost the battle for about a 10-minute period in the middle of the park where we kind of got loose on them."
Texas (5-3-2, 1-0-0 Big 12) leaned on 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Julia Grosso. Grosso assisted on the eventual game-winning goal in the 28th minute with a long ball played over the K-State defense to Trinity Byars. Byars attempted her shot from 15 yards and caromed the shot off the left post and into the netting.
In the 37th minute, Grosso danced through the K-State defense and finished from eight yards on the right side.
K-State (5-5-0, 0-1-0 Big 12) mounted its best opportunity in the 85th minute. Junior Roo Yarnell-Williams gathered the ball 20 yards from the Texas frame. Yarnell-Williams uncorked a rocket toward the top third of the net, but Longhorns goalkeeper Savannah Madden pushed the ball over the crossbar with her fingertips.
Dibbini liked what he saw from his squad in the second half, which included five shots.
"We had more chances than in the opening half. What we did in the second half was in transition moments, we needed to counter-attack a lot more. When we won the ball there were gaps between their midfield and their backline. Can we expose them by getting the ball into those gaps and playing a little more direct by getting vertical runners behind and collecting second balls when we play a big ball over the top? Unfortunately, when you dig yourself a hole at this level, it's very tough."
Texas finished the night with a 12-5 margin in total shots and a 6-1 edge in shots on goal. The Longhorns also held an 8-3 lead in corner kicks.
K-State closes out the weekend on Sunday, as the Wildcats travel to Lubbock, Texas, to face Texas Tech. Match time is set for 1 p.m. Sunday's match can be viewed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
What They Said
MIKE DIBBINI, HEAD COACH
On the improved play in the second half...
"We are just a better second half team. We gotta make more adjustments as far as figuring out ways to be better in the first half and not dig ourselves a hole. They're a good team but we are just as good. We can play with them, some bright spots for us , some of our freshmen doing a really nice job coming in, contributing, staying in and contributing the rest of the match. A lot of positives moving forward, I just wish we could have a better start to our first half."
On adjusting to Texas' speed in the second half...
"We were a little bit more physical, trying to disrupt play and disrupt them from trying to get going with their individual players. I think it showed a lot more in the second half."
On Entz starting at forward...
"I think Brookelynn has been doing really, really well in training and her performance was really, really good. Having another person in the middle of the field that can distribute and create chances for us , that goes unsaid. She had a really good performance today."
On the keys in the second half...
"We had more chances than in the opening half.. What we did in the second half was in transition moments, we needed to counter attack a lot more. When we won the ball there were gaps between their midfield and their backline. Can we expose them by getting the ball into those gaps and playing a little more direct by getting vertical runners behind and collecting second balls when we play a big ball over the top? Unfortunately, when you dig yourself a hole at this level, it's very tough."
On how they held up defensively tonight...
"I saw a lot of bright spots. I think our backline did a really nice job. I think if the midfield played a little bit more physical in the first half, the game could've gone either way. I think we lost the battle for about a 10-minute period in the middle of the park where we kinda got loose on them."
"I saw a lot of bright spots," said K-State head coach Mike Dibbini about Thursday's performance. "I think our backline did a really nice job. I think if the midfield played a little bit more physical in the first half, the game could've gone either way. I think we lost the battle for about a 10-minute period in the middle of the park where we kind of got loose on them."
Texas (5-3-2, 1-0-0 Big 12) leaned on 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Julia Grosso. Grosso assisted on the eventual game-winning goal in the 28th minute with a long ball played over the K-State defense to Trinity Byars. Byars attempted her shot from 15 yards and caromed the shot off the left post and into the netting.
In the 37th minute, Grosso danced through the K-State defense and finished from eight yards on the right side.
K-State (5-5-0, 0-1-0 Big 12) mounted its best opportunity in the 85th minute. Junior Roo Yarnell-Williams gathered the ball 20 yards from the Texas frame. Yarnell-Williams uncorked a rocket toward the top third of the net, but Longhorns goalkeeper Savannah Madden pushed the ball over the crossbar with her fingertips.
Dibbini liked what he saw from his squad in the second half, which included five shots.
"We had more chances than in the opening half. What we did in the second half was in transition moments, we needed to counter-attack a lot more. When we won the ball there were gaps between their midfield and their backline. Can we expose them by getting the ball into those gaps and playing a little more direct by getting vertical runners behind and collecting second balls when we play a big ball over the top? Unfortunately, when you dig yourself a hole at this level, it's very tough."
Texas finished the night with a 12-5 margin in total shots and a 6-1 edge in shots on goal. The Longhorns also held an 8-3 lead in corner kicks.
K-State closes out the weekend on Sunday, as the Wildcats travel to Lubbock, Texas, to face Texas Tech. Match time is set for 1 p.m. Sunday's match can be viewed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
What They Said
MIKE DIBBINI, HEAD COACH
On the improved play in the second half...
"We are just a better second half team. We gotta make more adjustments as far as figuring out ways to be better in the first half and not dig ourselves a hole. They're a good team but we are just as good. We can play with them, some bright spots for us , some of our freshmen doing a really nice job coming in, contributing, staying in and contributing the rest of the match. A lot of positives moving forward, I just wish we could have a better start to our first half."
On adjusting to Texas' speed in the second half...
"We were a little bit more physical, trying to disrupt play and disrupt them from trying to get going with their individual players. I think it showed a lot more in the second half."
On Entz starting at forward...
"I think Brookelynn has been doing really, really well in training and her performance was really, really good. Having another person in the middle of the field that can distribute and create chances for us , that goes unsaid. She had a really good performance today."
On the keys in the second half...
"We had more chances than in the opening half.. What we did in the second half was in transition moments, we needed to counter attack a lot more. When we won the ball there were gaps between their midfield and their backline. Can we expose them by getting the ball into those gaps and playing a little more direct by getting vertical runners behind and collecting second balls when we play a big ball over the top? Unfortunately, when you dig yourself a hole at this level, it's very tough."
On how they held up defensively tonight...
"I saw a lot of bright spots. I think our backline did a really nice job. I think if the midfield played a little bit more physical in the first half, the game could've gone either way. I think we lost the battle for about a 10-minute period in the middle of the park where we kinda got loose on them."
Team Stats
Texas
KState
Goals
2
0
Shots
12
5
Shots on Goal
6
1
Saves
1
4
Corners
8
3
Fouls
9
8
Scoring Plays
Trinity Byars (5)
Assisted By: Julia Grosso
Long ball over the top; 1v1 w/ GK shot off left post
27:04
Julia Grosso (4)
Shot from 8 yds on the right
36:58
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M/F
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