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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

2021 UNK Soccer
Corbey R. Dorsey
4
Winner #11 Emporia State ESU (15-1-1, 9-2-0)
1
Neb.-Kearney UNKE (2-16-0, 1-10-0)
Winner
#11 Emporia State ESU
(15-1-1, 9-2-0)
4
Final
1
Neb.-Kearney UNKE
(2-16-0, 1-10-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
#11 Emporia State ESU 2 2 4
Neb.-Kearney UNKE 1 0 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

#11 Hornets Take Season Finale; Five Seniors Honored

Kearney, Neb. – Junior forward Makenzie Dimarco recorded goals in each half to help 11th-ranked Emporia State thwart an upset bid by Nebraska-Kearney, 4-1, Sunday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.

This was the regular season finale for both. ESU (15-2-1, 9-2-0) finishes second in the MIAA standings and will play in next week's eight-team MIAA Tournament. They'll also qualify for the NCAA Tournament as well.  

Dimarco, the 2019 MIAA Offensive Player and Freshman of the Year, now ranks second in Division II with 18 goals. Today she scored in the 14th and 74th minutes while assisting on a goal in the 69th minute.

However, UNK came out strong early on, getting a shot on goal from California senior Perla Navarro just 1:11 into the action. It was stopped by senior keeper Jillian Patton; she finished the cold afternoon with two saves.

"I told the team before the game we have absolutely nothing to lose. They are number 11 in the nation and were contesting to win the MIAA regular season championship today. So, they had a lot to lose," said UNK head coach Chloe Roberts. "We came out great. We pressed them, we created some chances."

The Hornets broke the scoreless tie when Dimarco got free in the box, spun around and found the right corner of the Loper goal. But it took exactly one minute for the Lopers to respond as they scored off its lone corner on the day. Kansas redshirt sophomore Caralee Legg sent the ball to the top box and it bounced right to Omaha senior Kylee Moore. She was unguarded and promptly bang one in from 20 yards out.

"Unfortunately, we went down a goal but our response was incredible. We didn't put our heads down and we got a goal back. What a moment for Kylee … a senior to score at home in her last game. That's a moment you'll remember forever."

UNK almost made it 2-1 soon after but a shot by South Dakota senior Kassidy Kirsch went wide left with another being stopped by Patton. At the same time, Kansas redshirt freshman Emery Mounce stopped four E-State shots.

The game changed in the 33rd minute when St. Louis senior Bridget Barker launched a high-arching shot from about 25 yards out on the left wing. Unfortunately, it banged off the cross bar. About a minute later senior Aislinn Hughes scored her eighth goal of the year off a corner taken by junior Hannah Woolery.

"That could've changed the game. We got a little bit unlucky there and then they went scored," said Roberts. "That's soccer for you … it's a game of chances and if you don't put them away you'll get punished."

Dimarco ended the afternoon with seven shots with Woolery at five. UNK saw both Navarro and Kirsch have two shots. On "Senior" Day, all six shots were taken by one of five Loper seniors.

Honored after the game were Barker, Kirsch, Moore, Navarro and "Super Senior" Megan Cook (Bellevue West). She ends her career in the UNK all-time top five in games played (T-2nd/72), games started (T-5th/67) and minutes (5th/5,998).

"This was a day for the seniors. They've given a lot to this program and I was privileged to have coached them," said Roberts. "It's more than wins and losses; it's about life lessons and dealing with the adversity. You grow so much as a player and person. I've seen the growth in each of them."

The Lopers spring season will start in March 2022.
 
 
 
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