Bearcats Draw Kansas State in Big 12 Opener

The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team tied Kansas State, 1-1, in its Big 12 opener on the road Thursday inside Buser Family Park.    

Bearcats Draw Kansas State in Big 12 OpenerBearcats Draw Kansas State in Big 12 Opener

MANHATTAN, Kan.— The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team tied Kansas State, 1-1, in its Big 12 opener on the road Thursday inside Buser Family Park.  

Cincinnati moves to 1-4-3 on the year, while Kansas State now holds a record of 2-4-3.

"I would have loved the win, but I thought our girls played fantastic tonight," head coach Erica Demers said. "Road games are always the hardest ones and we walked away with a point, so we are happy with that,"  

After a physical first half, junior forward Laura Zemberyova netted the first goal of the match with a laser from well outside the box on a feed from teammate graduate student forward Teni Akindoju in the 64th minute.  

The goal was Zemberyova's second of the season and the eighth of her career.  

Kansas State would answer back late in the match as the Wildcats' Aliyah El-Naggar put one past senior goalkeeper Anna Rexford to equalize the match.  

The Bearcats outshot the Wildcats 15-8, a season-high, but were unable to take the lead back in the final minutes. Sophomore midfielder/forward Megan Smith and senior forward Ellie Flower tied for the team lead in shots with four.  

Both teams headed to halftime deadlocked 0-0, as the Bearcats outshot the Wildcats 8-2 and put two on goal.  

Cincinnati's best chance in the first half came in the first two minutes as Akindoju just missed the top left corner from the right side of the box.  

The Bearcats led in shots for the second time this season. The team outshot Central Michigan,10-7 on Aug. 31 which also ended in a 1-1 draw.  

// UP NEXT 
Cincinnati will take the weekend off, before returning to Gettler Stadium for its Big 12 home opener against TCU on Sept. 21. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will be streamed on ESPN+/ Big 12 Now.  

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