No. 23 Jayhawks Settle for 0-0 Draw with Golden Gophers

BOX SCORE (PDF)

ST. PAUL, Minn. – One hundred and 10 minutes were not enough to settle a highly competitive match between the No. 23 Kansas Jayhawk and the Minnesota Golden Gophers Sunday afternoon inside Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. The two squads played to a 0-0 draw, the first tie Kansas has settled for in 29 outings and the first in a non-conference match in 36 games.
 
Kansas ended its opening weekend with a 0-1-1 record, while the Golden Gophers completed an undefeated weekend at 1-0-1.
 
“I thought we played well today,” said head coach Mark Francis. “We settled into the game pretty quickly and had the better (play) for sure. We had more clear-cut opportunities and they didn’t really have a good chance until right at the end, which we defended very well. I was really happy with how we competed today and I thought we did some really good things. Obviously, we couldn’t get a win this weekend but I’m still happy with where we’re at as a team. A lot of the young players are getting in and starting to figure it out. Now we just need to look forward to SMU on Friday.”
 
The Jayhawks came out of the starting gates on a mission, dominating the majority of the first half in nearly every category. The Kansas midfield controlled the game from the start and gave the KU strikers numerous chances to put in the match’s first goal. Kansas’ first prime opportunity came off the foot of freshman forward Grace Hagan. In the 16th minute, the Wichita product connected on a low cross into the UM six-yard box but her shot sailed just high of the Minnesota frame.
 
KU was back at it five minutes later, when the Jayhawks saw three solid looks within a one-minute span. Liana Salazar sent in hard strike from 20 yards out the required a tip save from the UM goalkeeper, Tara Hobbs. Off the ensuing corner kick, Jackie Georgoulis connected on a header that made its way past the keeper but a Gopher defender was there to deflect the try away. The ball then found its way to Hagan’s foot, but her shot was quickly corralled by Hobbs.
 
The two teams headed to the half all even at 0-0.
 
Both teams picked up the intensity level in the second half and the Minnesota offense began to come alive, tallying goal-scoring chances over the final 45 minutes of regulation. The Jayhawks also continued to give the Gopher back line fits. In the 60th minute, Parker Roberts broke free and had perhaps her team’s best look of the afternoon. The freshman sent a bullet strike at goal from just inside the penalty area but her try went right to the gut of Hobbs, who picked up her sixth fifth save of the day.
 
The stalemate continued over the remaining 30 minutes of regulation and Kansas was forced into overtime for the first time in 18 outings.
The first overtime period consisted of several good looks for the Jayhawks at netting the game-winner. Kansas thought it had won it when midfielder Tayler Estrada gained possession in the UM box off a corner kick and found the back of the net in the 99th minute, however the referee ruled that the junior captain had nicked the ball with her hand and called off the apparent game-winner.
 
The second overtime also yielded no goals from either squad, resulting in the Jayhawks’ first draw in 29 matches.
 
Kansas ended the match with a 13-10 advantage in shots, but amassed an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal. Hagan led the charge for KU with four shots on the day, two of which were on target.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Dobyns started in the Jayhawk goal for the second-straight match and enjoyed a relatively low pressure night, tallying the shutout with the help of three saves.
 
Kansas will head back on the road next weekend, but this time will head south to the Dallas area. On Aug. 28, the Jayhawks will meet the SMU Mustangs for a 5 p.m. kick off. Two days later, the North Texas Mean Green will welcome the Jayhawks to Denton. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
 
 
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