Playing just its second ranked opponent in program history, Kansas State women’s soccer took the ninth-ranked Texas Longhorns into overtime on Sunday afternoon at the K-State Soccer Complex. The Longhorns would prevail with a goal in the 93rd minute for the 1-0 win. That’s according to a release from K-State Athletics.
“We battled and played a very good game,” said K-State head coach Mike Dibbini about Sunday’s result. “We competed very, very well and had some good chances. That is a good team over there but we turned that switch off for three seconds and they punished us for it. At this level, playing this game we have to be consistent on turning on the switch until the game is over. Unfortunately it is a cruel game and you saw that today.”
K-State (6-8-1, 1-5-0 Big 12) and Texas played to a scoreless tie in the opening half. The Wildcats registered five shots in the opening stanza, with four on frame. K-State threatened in the first minute, as freshman Hannah Davis sent a corner kick in front of the Texas net. The ball eventually landed at junior Megan Kalkofen’s foot, but her shot attempt was deflected away by Texas goalkeeper Nicole Curry.
Texas (12-1-2, 4-1-2) proved to be the aggressors in the second half, outshooting K-State 8-2 including a 4-1 edge in shots on goal. However, Larkin pocketed four saves in the second half to keep the match knotted.
After Tatum Wagner threatened the far left post with a shot early in overtime, the Longhorns came back the other way. In the 93rd minute, Haley Berg collected a pass from Cyera Hintzen. Berg found space in the middle of the field and sent her high shot towards the K-State net. The ball went just over the outstretched arms of Larkin, bounced off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net to end the match.
“I knew she had a little bit too much time and that she was going to be able to get a pretty good strike off,” said Larkin about the game-winning goal. “I just tried to get there and I could not.”
Overall, Texas held a 25-8 advantage in total shots and an 11-5 lead in shots on goal. Texas finished with a 5-1 lead in corner kicks.
Kansas State will embark on its final regular season road trip of the 2017 season, as the Wildcats visit Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Friday, October 20, to face 25th-ranked Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. K-State will conclude its weekend at Oklahoma on Sunday, October 22, at 1 p.m.
