Asenjo’s Equalizer Leads Women’s Soccer to 1-1 Draw at K-StateAsenjo’s Equalizer Leads Women’s Soccer to 1-1 Draw at K-State

Asenjo’s Equalizer Leads Women’s Soccer to 1-1 Draw at K-State

by James Warnick
Box Score

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Mia Asenjo scored the equalizer in the 71st minute and Sami Lipcon had a couple of clutch saves in goal to help lead UCF women’s soccer to a 1-1 draw at Kansas State on Sunday afternoon at Buser Family Park.

With the Black and Gold down a goal and under 20 minutes to play, Asenjo found the back of the net to help the Knights earn a conference point.

UCF moves to 3-2-4 overall and 1-1-2 in Big 12 Conference play, while K-State is now 3-7-2 on the season and 0-4-1 in league play with the result.

“It has been a tough road trip for us, but we will learn from this and be ready for our next match,” head UCF coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “Big time play from Mia to score a goal and to help us get the draw. Sami was also solid in goal and did her job today.”

The Wildcats had a chance in the 14th minute, as Farrah Stephens-Martin got ahead of the keeper, but UCF defender Taylor Jacobson was there for a nice team save.

The Black and Gold had a chance of their own in the 23rd minute, as Ella Holloran got open in the box, but her shot was blocked. Lilly Nava later had an opportunity from the right side in the 39th minute, but her strike sailed just wide to keep the game scoreless.

The Wildcats managed to break a scoreless tie just before the break. Adah Anderson got open on the left side of the box and found the back of the net in the 43rd minute to give K-State a 1-0 lead.

In the second half, K-State had a good look with a shot from Sophie Simmons in the center of the box, but Sami Lipcon was able to leap up and make the save in the 53rd minute to keep it a one-goal game. Lipcon again made another big save in the 69th minute via a full extension dive to left to keep it a 1-0 contest.

The Knights then tied the match up in the 71st minute, as Honoka Hamano passed it off to Asenjo at the top of the box and the UCF redshirt junior was able to score in the lower left side of the goal. The goal marked Asenjo’s second of the season and fifth of her career.

UCF seemed to take the momentum from there, as it had chances in the final 10 minutes from Brooke Mulroney, Holloran, and Annika Huhta, but the trio of shots were all saved as the contest ended in a tie.

In all, the Black and Gold finished with five shots on goal and the freshman Lipcon tallied a total of five saves.

The result marked UCF’s fourth draw of the season and its second in conference play.

The Knights were without leading scorer Chloe Netzel on Sunday.

Sunday’s game marked the Black and Gold’s second of a three-match road swing. The Knights will close the stretch at West Virginia on Friday at 7 p.m. Following Friday’s contest, UCF will return home to host Big 12 newcomer Arizona on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. for its annual Space Game.