THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
PAGE 38
Sophomore midfielder Liana Salazar accepts a pass during the Nov. 1 home game against Oklahoma. Kansas won the game 2-1 and claimed the last spot in the Big 12 championship, but lost to West Virginia in the quarterfinals
Kansas falls to West Virginia in Big 12 quarterfinals
STELLA LIANG
sliang@kansan.com
West Virginia ran all over Kansas in the Jayhawks' quarterfinal matchup in the Big 12 Championship last night, ending the Kansas soccer season. The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, West Virginia's Frances Silva, scored two early goals, and the Jayhawks didn't come close to recovering, eventually falling 0-3.
Under the lights at the newly completed Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Mo., both of Silva's goals came with the clock stopped.
following fouls by Kansas. The Overland Park native took advantage of a free kick in the 17th minute and then a penalty kick less than eight minutes later.
"Second half I thought we competed really well," coach Mark Francis said. "I thought the penalty kick killed us."
Kansas, the eighth seed in the tournament, was overwhelmed offensively by the number one seed. The Jayhawks were outshot 20-7. West Virginia had 13 shots alone in the first half and had 11 of their shots on goal. None of Kansas' shots were on frame. Sophomore
forward Ashley Williams and senior forward Caroline Kastor led the Jayhawks in shots with two each.
"In the second half, we gave the third," Francis said. "It's tough to come back against these guys. You've got to give it to them. West Virginia is a good team. Offensively, they have so many different weapons."
weapons.
Tessa Broadwater scored the third goal 10 minutes into the second half, with the assist from Ashley Lawrence. Broadwater started in the place of injured Mountaineer Kate Schwindel.
the bright spot for the Jayhawks was junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Stroud. Despite the three goals that
went past her, she prevented the score from getting uglier. She added eight saves to her season total.
Last year, West Virginia was upset in the quarterfinals by TCU, after also earning the number one seed.
nally, the conference planned to hold its postseason tournament at Sporting Park, but Swope Soccer
Kansas is co-hosting the tournament with Sporting Club. Origi-
"West Virginia is a good team. Offensively, they have so many different weapons."
MARK FRANCIS Kansas coach
Swope Soccer Village was built especially for these games. Construction began about half a year ago, and these are the first matches to have ever been played
there. The semifinals will take place on Friday, and the final game will
be Sundav.
be Sunday.
Kansas ends its season at 7-11-2. Sophomore midfielder Liana Salazar was named to the Big 12 First team, Kastor was named to the second team and freshman defender Aurelie Gagnet is a part of the newcomer's team. Kansas will lose standout Kastor and defenders Shannon Renner and Madi Hillis to graduation.
Edited by Hannah Barling
FOOTBALL
Senior kicker Ron Doherty proves worthy of second chance
coberkrom@kansan.com
I CONNOR OBERKROM
Kansas' senior kicker Ron Doherty had waited for the call.
"I was ready to go. You never know, it just kind of happens," Doherty said.
After coach Charlie Weis had seen enough from Matthew Wyman after he misfired on a 31-yard field goal, Doherty got the call and it all came unexpectedly quick.
Doherty redeemed himself - after a rough 2012 campaign - against Texas last Saturday connecting on his two field goal attempts and the one extra point.
"It was definitely a plus to go 2-for-2 in the game and hit the extra point," Doherty said. "That is definitely a positive of getting back out there."
The Jayhawks were left looking for a new kicker from unsatisfactory performances from Doherty last year. He has no hard feelings about what happened.
"At the end of the day, it's not always positive, there are always negatives to the whole thing." Dohervv
said. "I do feel like it was an adverse situation and I thought the only way I could go was up and I did."
I found a Doherty, who filled every kicking position last season, didn't find his name on the depth chart this year.
"I just knew I just needed a chance to prove myself and got some opportunities to go out there and kick, and slowly and surely I worked my way back up," Doherty said.
Doherty's second attempt against Texas made it through with some aid from the uprights. Afterward one of the coaches went up to Doherty and told him he was "living right."
A lot of players that faced that kind of adversity may have called it quits, but Doherty kept clicking along, never doubting that he get another opportunity to prove himself. His teammates also played a crucial factor, helping him stick around for one more year.
"I love those guys. Those guys are my teammates. I would do anything for those guys," Doherty said. "There are people here that I'll stay with the rest of my life."
Through all the dregs of being yanked from the starting position, Doherty understands the team mentality of it all better than anything.
"Not a spot is secure on this team, you always have to be competing, that's what coach Weis has instilled here, which is fine," Doherty said. "As long as you do your job, you're going to keep it. I didn't do my job to the best of my abilities so they brought in some more competition."
Doherty never thought the end of last season would be the end of his career, and is mentally and physically more prepared, working on driving through the ball. From a mentality standpoint, he is more than ready to do his task when his name is called.
It was called and he delivered. "I'm very grateful for what happened, I'm just getting my opportunity and going with it," Doherty said.
Edited by Hannah Barling
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Senior kicker Ron Doherty (13) kicks the ball during the Nov. 2 game against Texas in Austin, Texas. The Jayhawks lost 35-13.
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