Jayhawks Come Back to Top Colorado College, 2-1, in Double Overtime

Box Score (PDF)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Freshman Grace Hagan netted the golden goal and added an assist as the Jayhawks came from behind to beat the Colorado College Tigers, 2-1, in double overtime Sunday afternoon at Stewart Field. Senior Liana Salazar sparked the KU comeback with her third goal of the season in the 55th minute before Hagan sent in the game-winner in the 102nd minute.
 
The win moved the Jayhawks to 3-4-1 on the season and snapped a three-match losing skid. The loss dropped Colorado College to 1-5-1 in their 2015 campaign.
 
“I thought we definitely deserved to win it today,” said head coach Mark Francis. “We scored two really good goals; great build-ups, great final passes and great finishes. We’re going to look back at this game later in the season and say this was a pivotal game. I really feel like we’re going to take off from this.”
 
Like many of the Jayhawks matches have gone so far this season, it appeared Kansas was caught in another game where it dominated the run of play, but was unable to get the result. And the way the match began it appeared it would be the same story against the Tigers Sunday.
 
Just 16 minutes into the match, the Jayhawks were faced with an early deficit when Tiger freshman Kelli Sullivan cleaned up a rebound and sent in the first goal of her collegiate career. KU would once again be forced to play from behind, a position that has not boded well for the 2015 Jayhawks this season as the squad was 0-4-0 in matches when they have conceded the match’s first goal.
 
KU went to the halftime locker room with a deficit for the second time in as many games, but proved it was adamant on not letting history repeat itself with a strong start to the second frame.
 
The Jayhawk offense come out in the second half with the new sense of motivation, dominating the home team in nearly every facet of the game. The KU offense finally broke through when Salazar netted her 24th career goal, just 10 minutes into the second frame.
 
Hagan chased down a long ball forward and beat her defender to the end line. The freshman then found her senior teammate, Salazar, who was stationed at the top of the Colorado College penalty box. Salazar calmly collected the pass, made a man miss and sent in a right-footed strike that went inside the right post.
 
Salazar’s third goal of the year not only knotted up the score at 1-1, but moved her to No. 4 by herself on the Jayhawks’ all-time goal-scoring chart with 24 career goals, and two goals behind the No. 2 spot.
 
With Kansas now on the board, the Jayhawks seized the momentum and created numerous chances over the final 30 minutes of play, attacking the Colorado College back line often. KU outshot the Tigers by a tally of 5-1 over the final 20 minutes of action.
 
Though Kansas controlled the match over the final 20 minutes, the Jayhawks could not convert their momentum into a go-ahead goal, eventually settling for extra time, the team’s third overtime in four matches.
 
After a relatively uneventful first overtime period, KU didn’t waste much time in bringing a swift end to the match. Senior Ashley Williams chased down a long ball forward and rocketed in a right-footed cross across the face of the Tiger goal. The ball flew all the way to the far post where Hagan elevated above the rest of the defense and head the ball into the back of the net.
 
The golden goal brought an immediate end to the match and marked KU’s first come-from-behind victory since the Jayhawks topped South Dakota State, 2-1, on Sept. 4, 2011, ended a 29-consecutive match winless streak in games when KU has conceded the first goal.
 
Kansas was outshot in a match for the first time this season, with the Tigers holding a slight edge of 14-13 on the day. Lois Heuchan led the squad with three shots, but was joined by four other Jayhawks who tallied multiple shots. Sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Dobyns picked up the win between the posts for KU, amassing three saves.
 
The Jayhawks will now head to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks on Thursday, Sept. 17. The match, which will be available on the SEC Network+, will kick off at 6:30 p.m.  
 
 
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