MANHATTAN – Playing its final home match of the divided 2020 schedule, K-State was unable to solve the Iowa State defense as the Cyclones tallied a 1-0 win on Saturday at Buser Family Park.
“They were a lot more aggressive than us today,” said K-State head coach Mike Dibbini about Saturday’s result. “When you look at the foul count here you could tell that their mindset and their urgency and their aggressiveness was disruptive to what we were trying to do. We didn’t compete for the 90 minutes like we are capable of doing. It just looked like we were very reactive today. We couldn’t get going like we normally were going in the last three games. It’s really disappointing but we’ve just got to figure out a way to rebound and get back into it next weekend.”
Iowa State (3-6-4) registered the only goal of the match in the 13th minute. Tavin Hays attempted a shot in a one-on-one scenario, which was blocked by K-State goalkeeper Alaina Werremeyer.
Hays deflected the ball towards the K-State net, but Shannon Dukes cleared the attempt off the line. Dukes’ clearance, however, ricocheted off of Hays and into the open net.
“It was a slip through ball,” said Werremeyer about the Cyclone tally. “They are really good at those, that’s what they were looking for all game. I got out and got as big as I could and it deflected off of me and right back to her right where she needed it at her feet. And then the same thing happened with Shannon (Dukes). It was unfortunate but her work ethic was good.”
K-State (3-8-2) registered seven shots on the afternoon, with six coming in the first half with the north wind at their backs. The Wildcats put four on frame, including a pair from Bailey Nemechek. Werremeyer ended the match with six saves, her fourth match this season with five or more saves.
The Wildcats will conclude the 2020 schedule on April 17 as the Wildcats travel to Norman, Okla., to face Oklahoma at 1 p.m.
– kstatesports.com –