Roos Prevail 1-0 Over Bears

Thursday, August 21

Springfield, MO

4:00 PM

Kansas City

1-2-0, 0-0-0

Missouri State

0-2-1, 0-0-0

Kansas City

Missouri St.

8/21/2025 7:33:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Ashley Koch delivered the game-winning goal in the 87th minute

SPRINGFIELD, MO. - Kansas City Women's Soccer (1-2) outlasted Missouri State (0-2-1) by a score of 1-0 to take home their first win of the 2025 campaign Thursday evening. After nearly a full 90 minutes of evenly-matched soccer, the Roos pulled ahead late thanks to a goal off the right foot of Ashley Koch in the 88th minute of play.

Right from the start the Roos and Bears were in for a defensive showdown as both teams felt each other out for the majority of the first half with neither side registering more than one shot in the first 20 minutes and over four shots in the first 45 minutes. Both offenses were limited to only a handful of free kicks and a corner kick or two and a few shot attempts as they took a 0-0 score into the halftime break.

In the second half, the Roos saw some sparks offensively while maintaining their composure on the defensive end. Audrey Brown made several key saves at the 53rd, 58th and 82nd minutes and finished with four saves and no goals allowed, giving her and the Roos their first clean sheet of the season. Additionally, the Roos defense stepped up in multiple crucial situations, clearing the ball out of harm's way down the stretch.

Offensively, Kansas City ended up with five shot attempts in the second half to Missouri State's six. Of the Roos seven shots for the game, three were on goal attempts. Koch led the team in shots with three including the go-ahead score.

At previous stages of the match, Koch's other two shots had both been blocked by a Bear defender, but her final shot was a different story. Determined to change the Roos fate, Koch received a looping cross-field pass from Kaitlyn Edwards, dribbled through a ticket of Bears and launched the ball into the bottom left corner to elevate KC into the lead late. For Koch, it was her second career goal with her first coming in the Roos 1-1 tie against Marquette last season.

The Roos held on for the final minute and change to collect their first victory of the 2025 season. Kansas City gets its first opening road game victory in four years with their last one coming in a 3-2 win over Southern Illinois in 2021. The Roos next battle comes back at Durwood Soccer Stadium as Kansas City hosts Rockhurst at 7 p.m. on Sunday.