MANHATTAN – Coming off an emotional win in the Sunflower Showdown last week, K-State used a first half equalizer from Kyler Goins to record a 1-1 draw over ninth-ranked West Virginia on Thursday night at Buser Family Park.
This was the first draw in five seasons of Big 12 action for the Wildcats and the first draw against a ranked opponent.
“Super proud of their resilience and their effort today,” said K-State head coach Mike Dibbini about Thursday’s result. “They came out, they stuck to the game plan, they executed it in so many different ways. Yes, that's a really, really good team but you know what, we had chances and couldn't be prouder of that effort.”
This was the second straight overtime match for K-State (6-6-1, 1-2-1 Big 12), as the Wildcats downed Kansas, 2-1 in the first overtime last Thursday on the road.
Trailing by a goal in the 18th minute, Brookelynn Entz played a long ball over the top of the drawn up West Virginia defense. Goins outraced her defender and fired her shot from 19 yards, just under the crossbar to tie the match at one.
“I can’t even explain it,” said Goins about her second straight match with a goal. “It was just pure happiness. I think my team really deserved this. It was a great ball by Brookelynn (Entz). She read it so well. We’re two great players, and Brookelynn reads me so well on the field. I’m really glad she played that ball. She saw that I took off, and I’m glad I finished that.”
The goal was the third of the season for Goins and the fourth of her career. The junior from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has set a new career season-high for goals and points (6). With the goal, Goins is the third Wildcat to register a game-tying goal in the program’s six seasons.
The assist by Entz was her fifth of the season, which is a new career-high for the Newton, Kansas, product. With her five assists, Entz has tied the school record for assists in a season, joining Hannah Davis from the 2017 season and improves upon her school record for assists by a senior in a season. In her career, Entz owns 13 assists which is a program high.
West Virginia (8-2-2, 2-0-1 Big 12) went in front in the eighth minute on a scramble in front of K-State’s net. The Mountaineers attempted a corner kick with the ball sailing to the far post. The ball found its way to the middle of the six-yard box, where a scrum ensued. The ball popped out of the pile to the foot of Lilly McCarthy who tapped it in from five yards.
Sophomore goalkeeper and reigning Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week Alaina Werremeyer then proceeded to keep the Mountaineers off the scoreboard for the final 102 minutes of action and finished the night with nine saves. This was her eighth career match with five or more saves.
“It’s momentum and it’s good,” said Werremeyer about the team’s performance. “The Big 12 is a hard conference, and points are points. It feels good to get points heading into the next game.”
K-State will conclude its weekend with another home match against a ranked opponent. The Wildcats host 23rd-ranked Baylor on Sunday, October 10, at 1 p.m. Sunday’s match is Junior Wildcat Day. For tickets, call (800) 221-CATS, visit kstatesports.com/tickets or walk up on match day to the Buser Family Park ticket windows
Sunday’s match will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
– kstatesports.com –