Kansas State soccer kicked off its ninth season on a sour note, falling 2-1 in a home contest against Nevada on Thursday.
“The mentality part was just not there from the beginning and wasn’t there until we dug ourselves a hole,” head coach Mike Dibbini said. “We started picking it up when we were battling time, unfortunate, unacceptable to be there.”
The Wildcats were led by the efforts of junior midfielder Jayce Woodward, who scored her first goal in Manhattan, but ultimately the team couldn’t overcome a two-goal deficit.
K-State opened with a starting lineup of just one senior compared to six for Nevada. The Wolf Pack used their experience to their advantage and clawed ahead early, connecting for a score in the 14th minute.
The young Wildcats remained poised despite the deficit, controlling the battle for shots and possession. Dibbini stated before the season he hoped to be a possession-based team.
After one match, he said they played the scheme “okay” but need to emphasize urgency in the future.
Woodward, a transfer from USC, nearly evened the score in the 21st minute. Dibbini said before the season she earned the role as the Wildcats’ “quarterback,” and slightly soared one off the top of the crossbar.
At halftime, K-State still trailed by one but owned a 12-5 advantage on shots, including 5-2 on goal. Nevada’s keeper Alyssa Szarlacki collected a total of 10 saves.
Nevada grabbed another quick score out of the break, netting a 2-0 lead at the 48-minute mark.
Woodward made her presence known again in the 78th minute, netting her first career K-State goal to keep the Wildcats within striking distance.
“I thought the second half, especially when she came back on the field, she did a good job for us,” Dibinni said. “I also felt like she has more in the tank, and hopefully she learns and comes back with a little bit more selfishness.”
Though the Wildcats provided a late scare for the Wolf Pack, they begin the 2024 season 0-1.
Next for the Wildcats is a road trip to the Pacific Northwest, facing Portland State on Thursday, Aug. 22, and Gonzaga on Sunday, Aug. 25. K-State returns to Buser Family Park Thursday, Aug. 29 against Green Bay.