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.
Monday, November 2, 2009
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
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