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Kansas City
Idaho
Strong second half propels ?Roos to victory
10/25/2013 8:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Kansas City exploded out of the second half gates with a dozen shots and a pair of goals en route to a 2-0 victory over Idaho on Friday evening, moving the 'Roos one step closer to a berth in the WAC Tournament.
Perhaps a product of a 4 p.m. start time, UMKC started slowly, mustering only two shots in the first half and failing to control possession versus the sixth-place Vandals.
“I was very unhappy at halftime,” said head coach Chris Cissell. “We had only taken two shots in the first half and neither of them was on frame. It was certainly a tail of two halves.”
The latter stanza was a much improved endeavor for the home team. Taylor Bare put the 'Roos on the board in the 53rd minute off of an Alyssa Elver assist, sticking a shot just inside the right post. The goal was Bare's 11th of the season. The senior forward currently stands second in the league in both goals and points.
With Kansas City clinging to a one-goal advantage, Emily Herndon found the opposite end of a 40-yard entry into the box from Kaely Tott, and closed the transaction with her fifth goal of the season. The assist was Tott's team-leading sixth.
Reigning WAC Defensive Player of the Week Nina Tzianos kept her net clean for the fifth time this season, breaking her own program record from a season ago. Tzianos improves on a stat line that has already seen her climb to second in the conference in goals against average and save percentage.
“Nina has been great for us all year,” said Cissell. “She has been very reliable in net, and, really, five shutouts is a testament to our team defense, as well.”
In what has become nothing short of a record-breaking season for the 'Roos, UMKC also notched a program record for wins in a season (9) and home wins in a season (5) with the victory over Idaho.
Next up for Kansas City is an afternoon tilt with WAC front-runner Seattle U. The Redhawks won the previous meeting 3-0 in Seattle, Wash. The 'Roos will look to hold serve on their home turf and even the season series
