Roos Clinch Postseason Spot with Victory at North Dakota

Sunday, October 19

Grand Forks, ND

12:00 PM

Kansas City

8-6-2, 3-2-1

North Dakota

7-7-3, 1-4-2

Kansas City

North Dakota

Photo by: Ryan Weaver

Roos Clinch Postseason Spot with Victory at North Dakota

10/19/2025 2:35:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Highlights

Delfina Zolesio and Riley Porter found the score sheet in KC's third-straight win

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Kansas City Women's Soccer (8-6-2, 3-2-1) officially clinched its postseason qualification this afternoon, downing North Dakota (7-7-3, 1-4-2), 2-1, thanks to a late-game goal from Riley Porter. The Roos continue surging up the Summit League standings, moving into sole possession of the fourth-place spot with just two games remaining in the regular season.

With 10 points on the league table, the Roos are now firmly set in the Summit League Championships. KC has a five-point edge on the Fighting Hawks, who have just one game left to play and seven-plus points on North Dakota State and St. Thomas, which each have two games left to be decided. The Roos return to the postseason for the first time since the 2023 season and the second time of Head Coach Jess Smith's tenure. The Roos have also reached double-digit points in conference play for the first time since the 2021 season.

Delfina Zolesio Fernandez Blanco opened the scoring in the 24th minute, scoring her league-leading 11th goal of the season. Kansas City was pressuring in the attacking third when a ball from Olivia Platt found its way over to Ashley Koch on the left side of the box. Koch turned back and made a move towards the end line, creating space and sending a pass across the mouth of goal. Zolesio hopped in and put a toe on the ball, sneaking it into the lower-right corner of goal.

North Dakota equalized in the 40th minute on a goal from Cora Antonia Karen Ellermann, and most of the second half was played equally on both sides. It was not until the 81st minute of play that Kansas City was able to strike again, this time from the hot boot of Porter. Madelyn Muhr sent a long pass into the box and Porter was able to bring it down, turning to her left and sending a strike past UND's Grace Miller for her third goal in as many games.

Anika Patton came up huge in goal for the Roos, allowing just one shot past her and making seven saves. The freshman set a career-high with that mark, tallying the most saves by a Kansas City keeper in a winning effort since Mackenzie Caldwell made seven saves in KC's 1-0 win over South Dakota on Oct. 14, 2022.

The Roos have now won three-straight games, their second three-game winning streak this season. Before this year, the Roos had not gone for multiple three-game winning streaks in the same season since 2019. Kansas City has also now won back-to-back road games against league opponents for the first time since October of 2021.

Kansas City closes its regular season home schedule on Thursday, hosting South Dakota State for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Roos will have another chance to make a move in the league standings as the Jackrabbits currently sit at 11 points, one spot ahead of KC.