Soccer defeats Texas Tech for Big 12 berth

Sophomore midfielder Kelsey Clifton celebrates with freshman midfielder Shelby Williamson after Williamson scored Kansas' second goal of the game, giving the Jayhawks the lead. Kansas went on to beat Missouri 3-2.

Sophomore midfielder Kelsey Clifton celebrates with freshman midfielder Shelby Williamson after Williamson scored Kansas' second goal of the game, giving the Jayhawks the lead. Kansas went on to beat Missouri 3-2.

Kansas’ Big 12 Tournament hopes rested solely on the gloves of freshman goalkeeper Kat Liebetrau. And in a penalty kick shootout to decide the winner of a Big 12 Tournament play-in game, Liebetrau stopped Texas Tech’s final penalty kick, sending her team to the conference tournament.

After 110 minutes of regulation and overtime play, the score remained 1-1 after a pair of goals in the 30th and 31st minute from Kansas (12-7-2) and Texas Tech (8-8-4). The Red Raiders kept up constant pressure for most of the match, outshooting the Jayhawks 17-8 through 90 minutes of regulation time. The Kansas defense, anchored by Liebetrau, bent but never broke through the second half and overtime periods.

“We kept really organized in the back with our communication,” said Liebetrau. “I was really proud of the back line and my whole team.”

In the penalty kick shootout, the Jayhawks never blinked, taking their shots as they hit all five past Texas Tech goalkeeper Colleen Pitts. Texas Tech netted its first four as well, but Liebetrau was determined to end the game at the fifth.

“I had almost gotten the fourth PK, and I was just like ‘This one’s mine,’” she said. “I went for it and got it.”

Liebetrau stopped Texas Tech sophomore Maggie Fete’s shot, giving Kansas the 1-1 victory. Immediate jubilation ensued for the Jayhawks, who had just earned their 10th straight Big 12 Tournament berth.

“It was just amazing, everyone was so excited,” Liebetrau said.

The victory means Kansas will face No. 1 seed Missouri for the second time in less than a week Wednesday in San Antonio in the first round of the tournament.

The team can’t help but feel a little bit lucky after winning a play-in game that, as coach Mark Francis said earlier in the week, the team didn’t necessarily deserve to be in. The game came as a result of a three-way tie between Kansas, Texas Tech and Baylor that left the eighth and final spot in the tournament disputed.

But Kansas took full advantage of the opportunity and the team is managing to hit its stride at a good, albeit a bit late, time in its season. The game, which officially is recorded as a tie, extends the Jayhawks’ unbeaten streak to three after defeating Iowa State and Big 12 regular season champions Missouri last week.

“We worked so hard, we’re just really happy for it,” Liebetrau said.

Freshman midfielder Whitney Berry scored the game’s first goal when she headed senior midfielder Monica Dolinksy’s cross into the back of the net. But Texas Tech equalized 30 seconds later on a 25-yard blast from freshman midfielder Tiffini Smith.

Dolinsky led the Jayhawks with four shots, including one off the crossbar that could have ended the game in overtime, and the game’s only assist. She also put in one of Kansas’ five penalty kicks helping win the game along with Berry, freshman midfielder Shelby Williamson, sophomore forward Emily Cressy and senior forward Kim Boyer.

The Jayhawks will have to recuperate from the match quickly to take on the Tigers, but for now the team is nothing but confident.

“We’re excited to be in the Big 12 Tournament and excited to play Mizzou,” Liebetrau said. “We’re looking forward to it.”

— Edited by Amanda Thompson

 

Related articles

Soccer plays for Big 12 Tournament berth

Jayhawks will play Texas Tech in unprecedented play-in game to decide final ...

/news/2009/nov/02/soccer-plays-big-12-tournament-berth/

Soccer Season Recap

A summary of the ups and downs of a tumultuous year for ...

/news/2009/nov/12/soccer/

Women's soccer Big 12 tournament-bound after victory

Freshman goalkeeper Kat Liebtrau saved the final Texas Tech shot to secure ...

/news/2009/nov/02/womens-soccer-bound-big-12-tournament-after-victor/

Women's soccer faces tough qualifier

Once thought to have advanced to its 10th straight Big 12 Tournament, ...

/news/2009/oct/31/womens-soccer-faces-play-game-conference-tournamen/

Jayhawks to take on Missouri again

Soccer team ends crazy week by qualifying for Big 12 tournament.

/news/2009/nov/04/jayhawks-take-missouri-again/

Kansas dukes it out in loss to ...

The women’s soccer team lost to Texas Tech and Baylor, falling to ...

/news/2010/oct/17/kansas-dukes-it-out-tough-loss-baylor/

Women's soccer loses 3-2 in overtime against ...

After winning a double-overtime play-in game to advance to the Big 12 ...

/news/2009/nov/04/womens-soccer-loses-3-2-overtime-against-missouri/

Soccer team’s weekend brings mixed results

Jayhawks gain first on-the-road conference victory against Oklahoma before falling to Baylor.

/news/2009/oct/19/soccer/

KU-MU game important for many reasons

Today’s game presents the last chance for Kansas to earn Big 12 ...

/news/2009/oct/30/ku-mu/

Soccer ready for final push

Up against the Red Raiders, the Jayhawks are gearing up an aggressive ...

/news/2011/oct/13/soccer-ready-final-push/

Soccer falls to Mizzou in overtime

The team’s season could be over after the Big 12 Quarterfinal loss.

/news/2009/nov/05/soccer-falls-mizzou-overtime/

Soccer loses game, but rebounds

Jayhawks finish weekend with 8-2-1 record and a red card.

/news/2009/sep/28/soccer/

Soccer team loses game with penalty kicks

Despite being ahead most of the game, the Jayhawks let go in ...

/news/2011/nov/03/soccer-loss/

Jayhawk soccer makes NCAA tournament

Kansas will face Denver on Friday in its first tournament berth in ...

/news/2008/nov/11/soccer_makes_tournament/

Soccer aims to win this weekend against ...

The team will play against Texas A&M on Friday and Texas on ...

/news/2010/sep/30/soccer-aims-win-weekend-against-two-texas-teams/

Trouble in Texas for soccer team

Jayhawks suffer two close losses to Longhorns and No. 15 Aggies.

/news/2009/oct/05/trouble-soccer-team/

Soccer keeps Big 12 tourney hopes alive

Team loses to Nebraska but beats Iowa State before taking on Missouri ...

/news/2009/oct/26/soccer/

Colorado trumps, Texas Tech yields

Soccer teams’ relief at Friday’s win tempered by Sunday’s loss; coach still ...

/news/2009/oct/12/soccer/

Kansas leveling out after hot start

Red Raiders and Buffaloes give Jayhawks an 8-4 overall record after split ...

/news/2008/oct/06/soccer/

Cressy and Williamson earn awards

The players received national and Big 12 recognition for their role in ...

/news/2009/nov/04/cressy-and-williamson-earn-awards/

Kansas picks up first conference road win

The Jayhawks defeated the Red Raiders 3-1 Friday night

/news/2011/oct/15/kansas-picks-first-conference-road-win/

Jayhawks fall after halftime lead

Buffaloes won in overtime play.

/news/2010/oct/25/jayhawks-fall-/

KU soccer rolls over Texas A&M, advances ...

The Jayhawks will face Missouri on Friday.

/news/2008/nov/06/ku_soccer_rolls_over_texas_m_advances_big_12_tourn/

Hawks lose to Tigers in shootout

The Kansas soccer team will have to wait until Monday night to ...

/news/2008/nov/10/Soccer/

Jayhawks’ victories qualify team for Big 12 ...

After victories against Nebraska and Iowa State, the Jayhawks have five wins, ...

/news/2007/oct/29/soccer/

Soccer hopes home games will help standings

Positive home atmosphere helps Jayhawks during games.

/news/2009/oct/07/soccer/

Soccer topples Aggies, 1-0

The Kansas squad knocks off No. 6 Texas A&M Friday in one ...

/news/2008/oct/20/soccer/

Liebetrau saves all but one, two-game split ...

Jayhawks’ sophomore goalkeeper was aggressive in the box this weekend with 17 ...

/news/2010/sep/14/liebetrau-saves/

Soccer team falls in overtime

The Kansas women's soccer team stood toe-to-toe with Tennessee, but the game ...

/news/2011/aug/21/Kansas-soccer-Tennessee/

Kansas soccer starts 2009 season 5-0

KU soccer is undefeated for the third time in program history after ...

/news/2009/sep/08/kansas_soccer_starts_season/

Soccer team needs new faces to step ...

Injuries and graduations means young players will play a key role.

/news/2009/aug/27/soccer_team_needs_new_faces_step/

Memories remain of bruising 2010 Jayhawk-Tiger match-up

The Kansas women's soccer team expects another physical contest in Friday's Border ...

/news/2011/oct/20/memories-remain-bruising-2010-jayhawk-tiger-match-/

Do or die time at Big 12 ...

The Jayhawks play the Texas A&M Aggies on Wednesday in a quarterfinal ...

/news/2011/nov/01/big-12-womens-soccer/

Gameday: Kansas vs. Niagara

Kansas plays Niagara in its first round NCAA tournament game. Both teams ...

/news/2007/mar/15/gameday/

Jayhawks shock the Aggies

Shannon McCabe's first half goal led Kansas to a historic 1-0 victory ...

/news/2008/oct/18/jayhawks_shock_aggies/

Playing in the shadows

Soccer team fails to measure up to last year’s success

/news/2009/nov/12/playing/

Soccer falls 2-1 to Nebraska, rebounds with ...

This weekend went from bad to good as the Jayhawks overcome double ...

/news/2008/sep/29/soccer/

Soccer advances to NCAA Tournament second round

The Jayhawks defeated Denver 2-1 in Palo Alto, Calif.

/news/2008/nov/14/kansas_soccer_advances_ncaa_tournament_second_roun/

Soccer takes weekend invite title

Team wins the tournament despite struggle to make goals.

/news/2009/aug/31/soccer_weekend/

Keepers fight for starting position

Two players have split the spot since preseason, providing extra competition.

/news/2009/oct/22/keepers-fight-starting/

Comments

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment