MANHATTAN – One of K-State’s newest faces added her name to the program’s scoring ledger on Sunday, as junior Marisa Weichel tallied the game-winning goal to push the Wildcats to their first win of 2021, 1-0, over Omaha at Buser Family Park.
“A really good win for us, we needed that obviously from a tough loss on Thursday night,” said K-State Head Coach Mike Dibbini about Sunday’s victory. “We showed good character, responded well, and scored a goal early in the match.”
K-State (1-1-0) broke through in the seventh minute on its second corner kick of the afternoon. Junior Aliyah El-Naggar delivered the corner kick toward the far post. Freshman Kenzi Gillispie headed the ball down toward the feet of senior Brookelynn Entz.
Entz took a tap at the ball, which ping-ponged off an Omaha defender’s legs and found Weichel wide-open in front of the goal mouth. Weichel tapped it in for K-State’s first goal of 2021, while Entz and Gillispie were credited with assists.
“It was a great ball played in and everyone was trying to get a piece of it,” said Weichel about her goal. “I kind of blacked out it happened so fast, but I think the goalie got a piece of it and I just ran to the ball and got a goal. We needed it after our last game, we needed this win and we were all working hard and really wanted to win.””
This was Weichel’s third career collegiate goal and her first with the Wildcats. It was her first goal since Sept. 1, 2019, against North Texas while playing for Texas Tech. Weichel joins her sister, Maddie, as the first set of sisters in program history to each register a goal in their careers in purple and white.
Marisa Weichel knows the chemistry with her sister helps her play and the other Wildcats.
“It’s great. Honestly, it’s so nice because I know what she’s going to do every single time. I can read what she’s going to do and know what run to make. Who wouldn’t want to play college soccer with their sister? I’m so happy I came and it’s great.”
With the assist, Entz improved her career school record to nine and upped her career points total to a record-high of 43.
The Wildcats looked to add a second tally in the 44th minute on a misplay by the Mavericks. Omaha (1-1-0) starting goalkeeper Mia Reedtz Rehde Olesen came off her line and well outside the 18-yard box to foil a K-State breakaway.
As the Wildcats attempted to move the ball around Reedtz Rehde Olesen, she stuck out her elbow and deflected the ball. Reedtz Rehde Olesen was immediately shown a red card and was replaced by Rachel Thigpen, while Omaha played with 10 players for the remainder of the match.
In the 89th minute, Omaha sent numbers forward on a last-ditch effort on a free kick. K-State cleared the ball, which resulted in freshman Riley Baker and redshirt sophomore Caylee Thornhill on a 75-yard breakaway with only the goalkeeper in front of them. Baker’s shot attempt from 14 yards was saved on a diving stop by Thigpen, but secured the K-State win as there were only seconds remaining in the match.
Sophomore goalkeeper Peyton Pearson made her fifth career start between the pipes and responded with her third career shutout. Pearson, a product of Tulsa, Oklahoma, made three saves on the afternoon and faced just seven shot attempts. This was Pearson’s second career win, improving her overall record to 2-1-1.
Pearson made sure to remain focused despite facing sporadic chances from the Mavericks.
“Some mistakes just happen as a goalkeeper, but you really just have to stay focused the whole time because in one second the ball can be right in front of you. Really, it’s just staying involved in the game continuously, staying involved with your defenders, just making sure everyone is on the same page.””
K-State ended the match with a 25-7 advantage in total shots, including a 6-3 edge in shots on goal. The 25 total shots by the Wildcats are the fourth-highest total for a single-match in program history and the most since K-State attempted 27 against Arkansas State on Aug. 29, 2019.
K-State will begin a five-match road trip, as the Wildcats travel to Clarksville, Tenn., to face Austin Peay on Friday at 7 p.m., and North Alabama on Sunday at 1 p.m. Friday’s match will be available on ESPN+.
– kstatesports.com –