The string that holds Kansas’ postseason hopes alive grew thinner this weekend after losing to Nebraska, but is still intact after a victory against Iowa State.

Friday’s match against Nebraska (10-4-4, 4-3-2 Big 12) was the kind of defeat that takes awhile to completely digest. The Jayhawks came into the game knowing they had to win to keep any control over their playoff hopes.

Photo Gallery

Kansas Soccer vs. Nebraska

Photos from the Big 12 Kansas vs. Nebraska soccer game.

But within the first 32 minutes, the Cornhuskers deflated the Jayhawks by taking an early 3-0 lead. All three goals came from long strikes of more than 20 yards.

Then, the Jayhawks looked like they might put together an inspired comeback.

A perfectly placed free kick from senior Monica Dolinsky and a rebound goal from junior Caitlin Noble in the 43rd and 52nd minutes placed Kansas within one, and the momentum seemed to be swinging in their favor.

But Nebraska responded with two goals in seven minutes, one from a bicycle kick from Anna Caniglia, to gain a 5-2 lead.

“Every time we created a chance or were pressuring them, they just came down and got a goal,” said Dolinsky.

Senior Estelle Johnson scored in the 72nd minute to bring a sliver of hope back to Kansas, but Nebraska continued its attack scoring two more.

Sophomore Emily Cressy gave the Jayhawks one more with under a minute left in the game, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a lopsided 7-4 lose.

It was the highest–scoring match in Kansas history, and the second-highest in Big 12 history. The seven goals were the most the Jayhawks had allowed since 1999, which also came against Nebraska. Kansas players were at a loss after the game.

“It’s kind of a hit on our pride,” senior Lauren Jackson said. “But we just have to move on.”

The Jayhawks held the nation’s leading scorer, Morgan Marlborough, scoreless throughout the whole game, but the Cornhuskers’ high-pressure attack and kick-and-chase style frustrated the Kansas defense all afternoon.

“You have to drop down to their level, because they suck you into doing that,” said Jackson.

Despite the result, coach Mark Francis couldn’t blame the loss on a lack of effort. Kansas continued to create scoring opportunities and make runs through the Nebraska defense late into the game.

“Even when they got 5 or 6 we were still fighting and battling — we didn’t quit,” Francis said. “It’s disheartening when you fight that hard on the field to give up some of the goals we did today.”

The loss essentially made Sunday’s game against Iowa State (7-8-4, 2-7 Big 12) an elimination game. Both Kansas and Iowa State would be out of playoff contention with a loss.

The Jayhawks attacked the Cyclones from the starting whistle as if their season depended on it.

Kansas dominated the shot count, hitting 25 throughout the game, while Iowa State managed only seven.

But the game remained scoreless until Cressy was tripped in the penalty area and the referee awarded Kansas a penalty kick. Dolinsky buried the shot in the net for the game’s only goal.

“Last year I had a PK against them and I missed, so that raced through my head,” Dolinsky said. “But I was fine and the girls were behind me.”

Jackson may have single handedly saved the Jayhawks’ postseason hopes when she cleared a ball away from the Kansas goal that freshman goalkeeper Kat Liebetrau missed.

The game ended 1-0 for Kansas, keeping its Big 12 Tournament hopes alive for now.

Francis said he thought his team played some of the best soccer it had played all year in the last couple of weekends, despite some poor results. The team can only hope to come up big next Friday against Missouri, who leads the conference with a perfect record in the Big 12.

“The bottom line is we go into our last game with something to play for,” Francis said. “We’re still in there.”

— Edited by Alicia Banister