Early K-State Goal Not Enough Against Utah

Thursday, October 10

Manhattan, Kan.

7 p.m.

Kansas State University

3-8-3, 0-5-2

Utah

6-4-4, 3-2-2

Utah

Kansas St.

Photo by: Austin Van Meter

Photo by: K-State Athletics

Photo by: Austin Van Meter

Photo by: K-State Athletics

Photo by: Austin Van Meter

Photo by: K-State Athletics

Photo by: Austin Van Meter

Oct 10, 2024 | Soccer

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MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State went ahead with one of the earliest goals in program history on Thursday night on Buser Family Park, but the first half tally wasn't enough as Utah scored a pair in the second half to down the Wildcats, 2-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- K-State (3-8-3, 0-5-2 Big 12) went on top early in the match, scoring in the fifth minute. Senior forward Riley Baker took advantage of a Utah defensive miscue to drive the ball to the end line. Her low cross found junior Sophie Simmons at the right post, who tapped in from five yards.
- The goal at 4:28 was the fifth-earliest goal in program history and the earliest since 2020 when Shae Turner scored at 2:10 against Oklahoma.
- The goal by Simmons was the first of her career, while Baker collected her second assist this season and the fifth of her career.
- Utah (6-4-4, 3-2-2) charged out of the locker room and scored the equalizer in the 51st minute on a rebound by Katie Callaway.
- The Utes would take the lead in the 85th minute on a shot by Bella Woods from just outside the the right post, 15 yards away.
- The match was marred by 27 combined fouls and seven yellow cards, as the Wildcats were assessed five.
- Utah held a slim 17-13 advantage in total shots but distanced themselves from the Wildcats with a 10-3 lead in shots on goal.
- K-State junior goalkeeper Murphy Sheaff made eight saves on the night. This was Sheaff's eighth match this season and the 16th of her K-State career with five or more saves.

QUICK FACTS
- Thursday was the first meeting in the series between K-State and Utah.
- The Wildcats are 2-4-1 this season in matches played at Buser Family Park and own a 22-43-8 mark in matches played at its home grounds.
- Kansas State has scored in six of seven home matches this season.
- With Simmons's goal, K-State has had 12 different players score a goal this season – setting a new school record for goal scorers in a single season. K-State's last five goals have been scored by a player recording their first of the season.
- K-State has 16 goals on the season, which is tied for the third-most in a season in program history.
- Simmons's goal was the 15th assisted goal this season by the Wildcats.
- K-State's 17 assists this season rank third in school history for a single-season.
- The Wildcats are 2-1-1 this season when leading at halftime and 23-8-2 in its history.
- K-State has held opponents without a goal in 14 halves this season.

PLAYER NOTES
- With her fifth career assist, Baker moved into a tie for sixth in program history for career assists (Caylee Thornhill, 2019-22; Maddie Weichel, 2020-2023; Adah Anderson, 2021-present).
- With her assist, Baker improved her career points total to 13 and moved into a tie for eighth in program history (Caylee Thornhill, 2019-22).
- With her start in frame, Sheaff tied for second in program history for career starts in goal with 32 (Miranda Larkin, 2016-17). Sheaff is tied for second in program history for career matches in goal with 32 (Miranda Larkin, 2016-17).
- Sheaff has played 2,850 minutes in frame in her K-State career. She remains in third in school history for minutes played in goal.
- Junior defender Jazmin Brown played 90 minutes on Thursday. With the effort, Brown boosted her career minutes played total to 4,226 and moved into sixth in program history for career minutes played.
- Brown has started 49 career matches in her career. She is eighth in program history for career starts.
- Senior Adah Anderson played in her 69th career match, which is tied for third in school history for career matches played (Maddie Weichel, 2020-23).

FROM THE HEAD COACH
K-State Head Coach Mike Dibbini
On scoring a goal in the first five minutes to create momentum…
"I thought we did a good job executing our game plan in the first half by defending up high on the field and causing some problems, created our chance and created our goal. It felt like in the second half, the first 10-15 minutes, we tried to remind them to play the game, to play the game the way we played in the first half. But I don't know how many times this team's been in this position where they get into that, 'hey, let's protect this lead.' We need to continue to stay on our front foot, and we just kind of let loose a little bit, and they punished us for it. And obviously we got the urgency back, and the game went back and forth, and they got another one. So, I mean, I would say we played well for about 80 out of the 90 minutes and it was a 10-minute period there where we got into a defensive mindset instead of an attacking mindset and lost focus."

On the five yellow cards potentially affecting the team's composure…
"We've got an attack mindset in our pressing. When you're pressing aggressively, it puts you in a position of maybe getting calls against you. And so there may have been a few extra yellow cards there, but I thought at the end of the day, I don't think that really had anything to do with it. I think it just came down to us not executing another goal to separate and we got into a mindset battle of not keeping our foot on the front foot."

On the message to the team ahead of playing BYU on Monday…
"Regroup. Continue to push forward on what we're doing here, and not lose sight and focus of that and stay disciplined on playing on our front foot for longer periods of time and don't get into that shallow defending."

UP NEXT
K-State returns to Buser Family Park on Monday night, as the Wildcats host BYU at 7 p.m. For tickets, fans can order on kstatesports.com/tickets or by calling (800) 221-CATS. Monday's match will be broadcast on ESPN+.