Hurricane Escapes Kansas in 2-2 Draw

Thursday, August 22

Lawrence, Kan.

7:00 p.m.

Tulsa

1-1-1, 0-0-0

Kansas

2-0-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Tulsa	1	1	2
Kansas	0	2	2

Photo by: Paris Moua

Hurricane Escapes Kansas in 2-2 Draw

8/22/2024 10:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Tulsa women's soccer team denied the Kansas Jayhawks' (2-0-1) comeback bid Thursday night with a goal by sophomore forward Leah Diaz in the waning minutes of the game, ending the night with a 2-2 final score. The Golden Hurricane moves to 1-1-1 on the young season.

A Kansas own goal – resulting from a beautifully placed free kick by redshirt junior Hannah Chance – gave the Hurricane the 1-0 lead at halftime. The Jayhawks looked to erase the error and took a 2-1 advantage with 22 minutes to go before heroics by Diaz, who was set up by true freshman Aniya Facen and Chance down the stretch, halted the comeback and allowed TU to escape Lawrence in a 2-2 final result.

Kansas spent most of the game within Tulsa's territory but failed to capitalize on multiple looks. Many attempts were thwarted by TU's defenders within the goal area, especially goalkeeper Tatum Sanders who stepped up to save the ball 11 times on the night, a career-high for the junior from Tulsa.

Overall, Kansas recorded 30 total shots and 13 shots on goal, while Tulsa finished with six shots and one on goal, which was Diaz's equalizer.

"Tatum had a really good game and made some important saves," Head Coach Jim Rhein said. "But it was a team effort to get a positive result on the road against a super athletic team."

How it Happened
Much of the first half was spent on Tulsa's side of the field as Kansas' defense kept away the Hurricane for the majority of the frame while shooting the ball 12 times, and four occasions on goal. Tulsa only had two shots in the first half but held the Jayhawks scoreless, due in part to Tatum Sanders' four saves.

Tulsa got on the board first off an own goal right before the halftime break in the 43rd minute. From just inside the halfway line on the Jayhawks' side of the field, Hannah Chance sent a free kick into a crowd of players in the front center of the penalty area where the ball bounced off a Jayhawk player's head over the reach of the goalkeeper and into the net, giving TU the 1-0 advantage at the break.

Out of the halftime pause, Kansas would knot it up in the 49th minute with a right-footed goal by Jillian Gregorski. Saige Wimes took the ball into the penalty area and crossed it left over to Gregorski for the equalizing score.

Wimes sent over another crosser within Tulsa's penalty area, this time met by Raena Knust who knocked the ball into the lower left corner of the net in the 68th minute of regulation, giving Kansas its first lead of the game at 2-1.

The Hurricane wouldn't back down as Leah Diaz grabbed her second goal of the season within the 78th minute of the contest to make it a 2-2 contest, which would be the game's final score. Diaz sent the ball into the lower right corner of the goal with her left foot and was set up by strategic passes from Aniya Facen and Hannah Chance, who put it in the box for Diaz to find.

Game Notes

Tulsa's opening score came from a Kansas own goal in the 43^rd minute.
Leah Diaz scored her second goal of the season and sixth in her career.
Tatum Sanders guarded the poles for all 90 minutes and recorded a career-high 11 saves.
Tulsa had six shots and one on goal (Leah Diaz), while Kansas had 30 shots and 13 on goal that came from 11 different players.
Kansas had six corner kicks to Tulsa's one.

Scoring Summary
Tulsa 1 1 - 2
Kansas 0 2 - 2

Individual Scoring
Kansas own goal at 42:28
Jillian Gregorski (Kansas) at 48:15 (Saige Wimes)
Raena Knust (Kansas) at 67:45) (Saige Wimes)
Leah Diaz (Tulsa) at 77:29 (Hannah Chance; Aniya Facen)

Goalkeeper Saves
Tatum Sanders (Tulsa) – 11
Sophie Dawe (Kansas) – 0