LAWRENCE, Kan. (KUAthletics.com) – The Kansas Jayhawks and South Florida Bulls played to a 1-1 draw on Thursday night at Rock Chalk Park. Redshirt sophomore Saige Wimes scored her first goal of the season in the 58th minute, but USF found the game-tying goal in the 89th minute.
“Getting scored on in the 89th minute with a 1-0 lead is a difficult one to swallow,” head coach Nate Lie said. “Credit to USF, they pressed hard for it. They played a very good, what felt like a speculative ball, but ended up being greatly served…very tough to deal with after 88 minutes of very hard work by our team. Credit to South Florida for pushing for that goal and making a big play.”
Lie continued, “I hurt for the players right now. That’s my main feeling at this point is I hurt for our team because I think they really invested in what we asked them to in this game. South Florida is a team that I believe prides themselves a lot on possession and I thought we were able to completely neutralize it until we were up a goal and they were pushing numbers forward…we’re getting better. It’s something that I hope the players feel and I hope the fans feel.”
Similar to previous games, Kansas controlled the tempo of the match. In the first half, the Jayhawks held a 7-1 advantage on shots, but KU went into the locker room with the score tied at 0-0.
USF (3-1-1) had a great opportunity less than six minutes into the second half. Sarah Brunner had a breakaway and redshirt freshman Sophie Dawe made a diving save to keep the game even at 0-0.
Kansas (2-0-2) was able to get on the board shortly after. In the 58th minute, Wimes found the back of the net off a set piece. Sophomore Caroline Castans took a corner kick and sent it back to junior Brooke Otto who returned it to Castans at the elbow of the box for a cross into Wimes who got her head on the ball and sent it past the goalkeeper. The goal gave Kansas a 1-0 lead.
USF kept battling in the second half and was rewarded in the 89th minute. Gentiana Fetaj sent a deep ball into the middle of the box that found the head of Georgia Brown and went off the post and into the net. That tied the game at 1-1.
Kansas held an 11-8 advantage on shots, including 5-3 for shots on target. The Jayhawks also had 10 corner kicks compared to four for the Bulls.
NOTES
• Kansas is unbeaten through its first four matches this season.
• Kansas is now 0-0-2 at home this season.
• Kansas recorded a season-high 10 corner kicks. That is the most since Oct. 12, 2023 at Iowa State.
• Wimes scored her first goal of the season and her first since Sept. 11, 2022 vs. Yale.
• Castans and Otto each tallied their first career assist.
UP NEXT
Kansas will host Gonzaga at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
