KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 2, 2024) – The No. 3-seed West Virginia University women’s soccer team dropped a heartbreaking, double-overtime match in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Championship, falling 1-0 to No. 6-seed Kansas inside CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday night.
In pouring rain conditions that persisted throughout the match, the Mountaineers (12-5-2, 8-2-1 Big 12) and Jayhawks endured a defensive battle that lasted the full 90 minutes. After the full time whistle, the match was scoreless and went into the first overtime period of the season and the Big 12 Tournament so far this year. Neither team managed to find the back of the net in the first, so it went into a second overtime period.
Unfortunately for West Virginia, it was Kansas who would find the golden goal in the 101st minute. The Jayhawk offense broke through WVU’s back line and slotted a ball past redshirt sophomore keeper Mackenzie Smith for the game-ending score.
In the final box score, Kansas outshot West Virginia, 15-6, including 9-3 in shots on goal. KU also earned six corner kicks, compared to just three for WVU. Smith tallied eight saves in the loss, marking a new single-match career high for the Apex, North Carolina, native.
With the loss, the Mountaineers fall to 10-4-2 all-time against the Jayhawks, as well as 1-2 in neutral-site meetings. Additionally, WVU is now 17-5-3 in the Big 12 Championship all time, while it is the squad’s first loss in an overtime match in the league tournament. West Virginia’s all-time overtime record at the Big 12 Championship is now 2-1-3.
The Mountaineers will now await to learn their fate in the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Tournament. The NCAA Selection Show is set for Monday, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m. ET, while the First Round will commence Nov. 15-17. West Virginia is looking to make its 23rd appearance in the national tournament.
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