Late Vanderbilt equalizer puts damper on KU soccer’s home opener

Four hours after the initially scheduled start time of Thursday night’s match at Rock Chalk Park, Vanderbilt finally found the back of the net.

In a game that had been delayed twice in one-hour increments over the course of the week due to excessive heat in Lawrence, and with just a minute left on the clock, the Commodores converted their 17th and final shot of the night to hold Kansas to a 1-1 draw in the Jayhawks’ home opener.

Vanderbilt’s Courtney Jones recovered possession following a slide tackle from KU freshman Olivia Page, then immediately whirled around and lobbed a cross to the center of the box. Addie Porter slipped between a pair of Jayhawk defenders, got her head to the ball before goalkeeper Melania Pasar arrived, and popped it in to tie the game.

The late goal marred a steadfast defensive effort for KU, which had only produced six shots of its own (three on target) and had withstood six corner kicks from the Commodores, with Pasar tallying five saves.

It also canceled out an unlikely first career goal for senior defender Moira Kelley. The Overland Park native saw her long-range service into the box in the 56th minute, on a free kick from near midfield, drift past all of her teammates and over the head of Vanderbilt keeper Sara Wojdelko.

The Commodores took eight shots in the final 10 minutes, though, and eventually broke through with Porter.

KU coach Mark Francis said in a press release that he expected his team to be “more in sync and more fluid with it being our third game,” and at times it was.

“I thought they were chasing shadows a little bit sometimes,” he said. “Also, (Vanderbilt) had some very good attacks as well. They’re a good team. I thought the girls played hard. It’s a good performance by us against a very good team just like against Wisconsin.”

Sophomore forward Lexi Watts was the only Jayhawk with multiple shots on the night. She was taking on her sister Sydney, a freshman Commodore who played 33 minutes with one shot.

KU, now 1-0-2, will host Colorado College on Sunday.

Kansas celebrates after scoring a goal against Vanderbilt during the home opener at Rock Chalk Park on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.

Kansas celebrates after scoring a goal against Vanderbilt during the home opener at Rock Chalk Park on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.

Kansas super-senior goalie Melania Pasar passes the ball against Vanderbilt during the home opener at Rock Chalk Park on Friday, Aug. 24, 2023.

Kansas freshman Caroline Castans passes the ball against Vanderbilt during the home opener at Rock Chalk Park on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.

Kansas senior Mackenzie Boeve kicks the ball against Vanderbilt during the home opener at Rock Chalk Park on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.