For the first time in program history, Kansas State women’s soccer has garnered a pair of Big 12 weekly honors as senior goalkeeper Miranda Larkin was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Week while forward Hannah Davis earned the league’s Freshman of the Week award on Tuesday. That’s according to a release from K-State Athletics. Both earned their respective honors for their efforts in the win at Kansas in the first Sunflower Showdown.
This was the first Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award in program history and the third time K-State has earned the Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors including the second for Davis.
Larkin, a product of Rockwall, Texas, tied her school record for shutouts in a season, as Kansas State registered its first Big 12 win in program history with a 1-0 win at Kansas.
Larkin tallied nine saves in the victory, including four in the final 21 minutes of the match and two incredible efforts in the final two minutes. On the final play of the match, Larkin preserved the win by tapping a header from 10 yards out over the bar to seal the win.
The senior has started 27 straight games between the pipes for K-State and recorded her fifth shutout of the season and her 10th as a member of the Wildcats. Larkin is the K-State career recordholder for shutouts and wins (10).
For the season, Larkin has played every minute in frame this season for Kansas State and she leads the Big 12 in saves per game at 5.69, while also ranking second in the league in total saves (74) and save percentage (.841).
Davis pocketed her second game-winning goal this season, as the forward from Lincoln, Nebraska, broke through in the 47th minute to score her first Big 12 goal, registering the game-winner. Davis ran up to a slotted pass and beat the Jayhawk goalkeeper with a left-footed touch to the right post.
Davis leads the Wildcats in total points (8) and assists (4). She is the first player in program history to record at least two career game-winning goals. Her eight points rank third in school history for career points.
She has tied the school record for assists in a season, holds the freshman record for assists in a season and ranks tied for second in career assists. Over the last six matches, Davis has either scored or assisted on six of the Wildcats’ last 11 goals.
Kansas State (6-6-1, 1-3-0 Big 12) returns to the K-State Soccer Complex this weekend for a pair of matches. The Wildcats will host Baylor on Friday, October 13 at 7 p.m., and seventh-ranked Texas on Sunday, October 15 at 1 p.m.
Friday’s match against the Bears is part of a “Ultimate Wildcat Weekend,” as fans with a ticket to the K-State/TCU football game can purchase a standing room only ticket for just $3.
Sunday’s match against the Longhorns is Pack the Pitch day. Fans can purchase tickets and select concession items for just a $1.
