Kansas State soccer ended its 2018 exhibition schedule on Wednesday night as Big Ten foe Minnesota visited the K-State Soccer Complex. The Golden Gophers defeated the Wildcats in the preseason tune-up, 3-1. This is according to a release from K-State.
Minnesota captured the lead in the 21st minute, as the Golden Gophers’ Molly Fielder dropped off a pass to April Bockin at the top of K-State’s 18-yard box. Bockin hit a low line drive to the lower left corner of the net for the first goal.
The Golden Gophers finished the opening half with a 10-1 advantage in total shots with six on goal. K-State’s lone attempt came off the head of senior defender Megan Kalkofen, as junior forward Katie Cramer sent in the corner kick minutes after the Minnesota goal.
Minnesota added a second goal early in the second half, as Bockin tapped home a rebound following a deflected save from K-State goalkeeper Emma Malsy for her second goal of the night.
K-State cut the deficit to one in the 54th minute. Sophomore forward Hannah Davis sent in a line drive corner kick from the right side of the Minnesota net. Senior forward Tatum Wagner muscled her way into position and deflected the ball into the net for the Wildcat tally.
In the 2017 season, Wagner registered one goal and two assists. Davis led K-State a season ago with five assists.
The Golden Gophers rebuilt their lead to two goals, 3-1, in the 72nd minute. Minnesota’s McKenna Buisman played a corner kick short of the K-State net. Buisman then went uncovered to the top of K-State’s 18-yard box. Bockin found Buisman two steps inside the area and converted the shot into the lower right corner through traffic to record the insurance goal.
Overall, Minnesota carded a 14-5 advantage in total shots with 10 on goal. K-State tallied four shots on goal with three on goal in the second half. The Golden Gophers edged out K-State in corner kicks, 6-3.
Kansas State will begin the 2018 season with a three-game home stand, as the Wildcats host Saint Louis on Friday, August 17, at 7 p.m., and Oakland on Sunday, August 19, at 12 p.m.