Kansas State University Athletics
Thursday, August 24
Manhattan, Kan.
8 p.m.
Kansas State University
2-0-1, 0-0-0
2
vs
0
UTSA
2-1-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
UTSA
0
0
0
Kansas St.
2
0
2
Photo by: Lathe Cobb Photography
Photo by: Will Huster Photography
Photo by: Will Huster Photography
Photo by: Will Huster Photography
Photo by: Lathe Cobb Photography
Photo by: Will Huster Photography
Freshmen Subs Star for K-State on Thursday
Aug 24, 2023 | Soccer
MANHATTAN, Kansas – In a matter of 37 seconds, a pair of K-State freshmen substitutions changed the face of Thursday night's match at Buser Family Park as the duo of Jo Sees and Morgan Struttmann registered goals to send the Wildcats to a 2-0 win over UTSA. The win was K-State's third in a home-opener and the first since 2018.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- K-State (2-0-1) went in front 1-0 in the 40th minute. Freshman Reece Walrod fired a shot from 18 yards directly at UTSA goalkeeper Mia Krusinski. Krusinski initially stopped the rocket but the ball bounced directly to freshman Jo Sees. Sees, who entered the match just seconds before, easily poked the orb into the right corner for her second goal of the season.
- Just 37 seconds later in the 41st minute, the Wildcats added a decisive second goal. Sees made an extended run with the ball from near midfield. After getting to the top of the 18-yard box, she dropped a pass off to freshman Morgan Struttmann. The forward from Lake St. Louis, Missouri, floated a right-footed shot towards the net that baffled Krusinski and found twine. This was the first goal of Struttmann's career.
- The 37 second difference between the two goals marked the second fastest consecutive goals in program history, trailing a 31-second performance against Colorado State last season.
- The Roadrunners (2-1-0) made a push in the second half with six shots but only were able to send two on goal, which sophomore goalkeeper Murphy Sheaff stopped for her second straight shutout.
- The Wildcats outshot the Roadrunners, 19-8, on Thursday including a 6-2 edge in shots on goal.
- K-State held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
QUICK FACTS
- K-State is 3-5-0 in home openers and owns an overall record at Buser Family Park of 19-33-5.
- The Wildcats are 3-0-0 in matches against American Athletic Conference members.
- K-State is 1-1-0 in the series against UTSA.
- Head coach Mike Dibbini owns a career coaching record of 299-152-47. He is 34-74-16 in eight seasons as the only head coach in K-State history.
- K-State is 20-6-1 all-time when leading at halftime.
- The Wildcats are 31-10-3 in its eight seasons when scoring first.
- K-State owns a record of 13-8-0 when scoring two goals in a match.
- This was the 37th shutout in K-State history. The Wildcats have registered 27 wins and 10 draws when holding opponents scoreless.
PLAYER NOTES
- Sees owns two goals this season, which is tied for third in program history for goals in a freshman season.
- With her goal and assist on Thursday, Sees improved her season total for points to five. She is tied for fourth for points in a freshman season.
- Struttmann led the Wildcats with four shots, including two on goal.
- Sheaff improves her K-State record in frame to 2-0-1. Her collegiate career record stands at 6-2-5.
- Sheaff has two consecutive shutouts and owns an active shutout streak of 260:17. In her collegiate career, Sheaff has seven shutouts.
- Senior Maddie Weichel played in her 54th career match on Thursday. She in sole possession of ninth in program history for career matches played.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
K-State Head Coach Mike Dibbini
Overall thoughts...
"I thought we played excellent the first half some of the best soccer and then, you know, there's a lot of takeaways. They changed a little bit of their formation in the second half, they pressed us with a higher prevailed, took away a little bit of what we were trying to do, what you would call timeout and make some adjustments. But you know, we played through it and we figured it out. Our young players came in, our depth showed tonight. So it was a great win for us."
On playing through adversity…
"You know, just stay composed. You know, I think I think they rattled us a little bit in second half with the press and a little bit of aggressive play. Just stay composed. We don't want to build up cards and try to escape that with no injury. So it was it was a tough second half for us, but we played through it and like I said, our depth came in and helped us."
On the plan of attack in the first half …
"I think the energy was there, our intensity on the defensive side, which created a lot of our offensive transition moments and we capitalized and executed our chances. So if we can do that for 90 minutes, we can be a really good team."
FROM THE FIELD
JO SEES, FRESHMAN FORWARD
On being able to help her team as a freshman…
"I mean, I'm honestly just grateful for any way that I can contribute to the team. I mean, as a freshman, I really don't don't even expect anything. So I'm just incredibly grateful to be able to contribute in any way that I can."
On building confidence…
"Yeah, I definitely think the confidence is coming. But I mean, it wouldn't be there without the supporting cast of a great team, with other players. Really setting me up for great chances."
On her relationships with the coaches…
"The coaches equally treat all the players pretty equally. I mean, they're tough on us. They want us to succeed but at the end of the day, we know that they ultimately want the best for us and care about us so much, and it's such a great environment, like one I've truly never been a part of before."
MORGAN STRUTTMANN, FRESHMAN FORWARD
On being able to help her team as a freshman…
"I'm very excited, at first it was very nerve wracking and everything. But this team is just are so like, comfortable and they make you feel so welcome. So it just nice to be able to finally feel comfortable. with them."
On steps to getting comfortable…
"Yeah, just like all the practices we've been doing and like team bonding even out of soccer. We just have become like so close, like even like for preseason and that just made us all build to be this kind of a team."
On impressive goal…
"Yeah. I just knew I had an opportunity to shoot it, and I knew I could take it, so that just helps out my team. And just gonna keep on pushing to be better and I can't wait to see what we do in the future this season.
MURPHY SHEAFF, SOPHOMORE GOALKEEPER
On first home game…
"Oh, it's just been fabulous. The atmosphere here like I've heard great things about it the whole time. Everyone's telling me "I can't wait to play at home" and I guess you have to see it to believe it. You got the smoke. We got all the fans out. It was a great atmosphere, it was good to be a part of."
On being in a new environment and team …
"No to be honest I think all of America is a bit of a culture shock to me at the moment. But somethings are a bit different than others, but you know nothing you can't handle."
On adjusting to a new team …
"I think just like the girls, the camaraderie on the team, it's just like a great bunch of girls and they just make everything so easy here slide right in. Everyone's just above and beyond, you can't name anyone, just no matter who it is. Who's around. They've got your back and you've got theirs, it's great."
UP NEXT
K-State completes a two-match home stand on Sunday, as the Wildcats host Creighton at Buser Family Park. Match time is 1 p.m. For tickets, call (800) 221-CATS or visit kstatesports.com/tickets. Sunday's match will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- K-State (2-0-1) went in front 1-0 in the 40th minute. Freshman Reece Walrod fired a shot from 18 yards directly at UTSA goalkeeper Mia Krusinski. Krusinski initially stopped the rocket but the ball bounced directly to freshman Jo Sees. Sees, who entered the match just seconds before, easily poked the orb into the right corner for her second goal of the season.
- Just 37 seconds later in the 41st minute, the Wildcats added a decisive second goal. Sees made an extended run with the ball from near midfield. After getting to the top of the 18-yard box, she dropped a pass off to freshman Morgan Struttmann. The forward from Lake St. Louis, Missouri, floated a right-footed shot towards the net that baffled Krusinski and found twine. This was the first goal of Struttmann's career.
- The 37 second difference between the two goals marked the second fastest consecutive goals in program history, trailing a 31-second performance against Colorado State last season.
- The Roadrunners (2-1-0) made a push in the second half with six shots but only were able to send two on goal, which sophomore goalkeeper Murphy Sheaff stopped for her second straight shutout.
- The Wildcats outshot the Roadrunners, 19-8, on Thursday including a 6-2 edge in shots on goal.
- K-State held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
QUICK FACTS
- K-State is 3-5-0 in home openers and owns an overall record at Buser Family Park of 19-33-5.
- The Wildcats are 3-0-0 in matches against American Athletic Conference members.
- K-State is 1-1-0 in the series against UTSA.
- Head coach Mike Dibbini owns a career coaching record of 299-152-47. He is 34-74-16 in eight seasons as the only head coach in K-State history.
- K-State is 20-6-1 all-time when leading at halftime.
- The Wildcats are 31-10-3 in its eight seasons when scoring first.
- K-State owns a record of 13-8-0 when scoring two goals in a match.
- This was the 37th shutout in K-State history. The Wildcats have registered 27 wins and 10 draws when holding opponents scoreless.
PLAYER NOTES
- Sees owns two goals this season, which is tied for third in program history for goals in a freshman season.
- With her goal and assist on Thursday, Sees improved her season total for points to five. She is tied for fourth for points in a freshman season.
- Struttmann led the Wildcats with four shots, including two on goal.
- Sheaff improves her K-State record in frame to 2-0-1. Her collegiate career record stands at 6-2-5.
- Sheaff has two consecutive shutouts and owns an active shutout streak of 260:17. In her collegiate career, Sheaff has seven shutouts.
- Senior Maddie Weichel played in her 54th career match on Thursday. She in sole possession of ninth in program history for career matches played.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
K-State Head Coach Mike Dibbini
Overall thoughts...
"I thought we played excellent the first half some of the best soccer and then, you know, there's a lot of takeaways. They changed a little bit of their formation in the second half, they pressed us with a higher prevailed, took away a little bit of what we were trying to do, what you would call timeout and make some adjustments. But you know, we played through it and we figured it out. Our young players came in, our depth showed tonight. So it was a great win for us."
On playing through adversity…
"You know, just stay composed. You know, I think I think they rattled us a little bit in second half with the press and a little bit of aggressive play. Just stay composed. We don't want to build up cards and try to escape that with no injury. So it was it was a tough second half for us, but we played through it and like I said, our depth came in and helped us."
On the plan of attack in the first half …
"I think the energy was there, our intensity on the defensive side, which created a lot of our offensive transition moments and we capitalized and executed our chances. So if we can do that for 90 minutes, we can be a really good team."
FROM THE FIELD
JO SEES, FRESHMAN FORWARD
On being able to help her team as a freshman…
"I mean, I'm honestly just grateful for any way that I can contribute to the team. I mean, as a freshman, I really don't don't even expect anything. So I'm just incredibly grateful to be able to contribute in any way that I can."
On building confidence…
"Yeah, I definitely think the confidence is coming. But I mean, it wouldn't be there without the supporting cast of a great team, with other players. Really setting me up for great chances."
On her relationships with the coaches…
"The coaches equally treat all the players pretty equally. I mean, they're tough on us. They want us to succeed but at the end of the day, we know that they ultimately want the best for us and care about us so much, and it's such a great environment, like one I've truly never been a part of before."
MORGAN STRUTTMANN, FRESHMAN FORWARD
On being able to help her team as a freshman…
"I'm very excited, at first it was very nerve wracking and everything. But this team is just are so like, comfortable and they make you feel so welcome. So it just nice to be able to finally feel comfortable. with them."
On steps to getting comfortable…
"Yeah, just like all the practices we've been doing and like team bonding even out of soccer. We just have become like so close, like even like for preseason and that just made us all build to be this kind of a team."
On impressive goal…
"Yeah. I just knew I had an opportunity to shoot it, and I knew I could take it, so that just helps out my team. And just gonna keep on pushing to be better and I can't wait to see what we do in the future this season.
MURPHY SHEAFF, SOPHOMORE GOALKEEPER
On first home game…
"Oh, it's just been fabulous. The atmosphere here like I've heard great things about it the whole time. Everyone's telling me "I can't wait to play at home" and I guess you have to see it to believe it. You got the smoke. We got all the fans out. It was a great atmosphere, it was good to be a part of."
On being in a new environment and team …
"No to be honest I think all of America is a bit of a culture shock to me at the moment. But somethings are a bit different than others, but you know nothing you can't handle."
On adjusting to a new team …
"I think just like the girls, the camaraderie on the team, it's just like a great bunch of girls and they just make everything so easy here slide right in. Everyone's just above and beyond, you can't name anyone, just no matter who it is. Who's around. They've got your back and you've got theirs, it's great."
UP NEXT
K-State completes a two-match home stand on Sunday, as the Wildcats host Creighton at Buser Family Park. Match time is 1 p.m. For tickets, call (800) 221-CATS or visit kstatesports.com/tickets. Sunday's match will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Team Stats
UTSA
KState
Goals
0
2
Shots
8
19
Shots on Goal
2
6
Saves
4
2
Corners
3
7
Fouls
13
15
Scoring Plays
Jo Sees (2)
Rebound & tap in from 3 yds; right corner
39:33
Morgan Struttmann (1)
Assisted By: Jo Sees
Shot from top of 18; Right corner
40:10
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
GK
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