Jayhawks blank UMKC in final spring exhibition
In its fifth, and final, exhibition match of the spring 2017 season, the Kansas soccer team shutout the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), 7-0, at Rock Chalk Park Friday night. Five different Jayhawks contributed to the team’s scoring effort on the night while the three goalkeepers combined to maintain a clean sheet for 90 minutes. With the win, KU upped its record to 3-2 for the spring.
“I said before the game that it’s been a really good spring and we made a lot of really good improvements, especially with players who didn’t get to play as much in the fall,” said head coach Mark Francis. “I think we’ve made some big strides.”
The first half saw the Jayhawks get out to a strong offensive start. For a majority of the first 45 minutes of play, the ball was in the last third for the Jayhawks. Freshman transfer Madison Meador showcased how well she fits into the Kansas system with a goal and one of the best looks of the first half. Eleven minutes into match, the Kansas City native took a shot from just beyond the box and found the far post. Later in the half Meador fired off another rocket from even further out, but it bounced off the top of the net.
Sophomore Grace Hagan also put her name on the scoresheet in the first half. After trying to break through the defense, Hagan pulled it to the far side and found an opening to slide the ball past the UMKC goalkeeper. While the Jayhawks successfully found the back of the net twice in the first 45 minutes, the ‘Roos were only able to get one decent look before the break. The shot went wide right with Kansas keeper Maddie Dobyns diving and pushing it out of bounds.
After halftime the game opened up in more ways than one. Within the first three minutes back on the pitch, freshman Sophie Maierhoffer and junior Lois Heuchan each scored a goal, bringing the line to 4-0 in favor of the Jayhawks. Both goals came from close range, within the penalty box. Two minutes later, freshman Katie McClure added a tally of her own to the scoreboard. The Wichita product took a free kick at the top of the box and sent it in without any assistance.
In the 60th minute, Hagan completed her brace. When McClure sent a pass into a crowded box, Hagan jumped and got a head on the ball to find the back of the net, the sixth goal of the night for the Jayhawks. McClure finished her own brace, and the scoring for the night, in the 74th minute with another rocket from outside the box.
With the spring exhibition season now complete, the Jayhawks will turn their focus to the 2017 season. Fall practice is scheduled to begin on August 1.?
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