photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Lexi Watts is dog-piled after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against West Virginia during the Big 12 tournament at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City, Mo. — Ahead of the second overtime of Saturday night’s Big 12 Conference soccer tournament match between Kansas and West Virginia, Kansas coach Nate Lie and his staff discussed a potential penalty kick order. Lie didn’t address his team until about 30 seconds remained in the break, and all he said to his team was, “Great job.”

The Jayhawks’ Lexi Watts scored the game-winning goal and the only goal in the 101st minute for a 1-0 victory, avoiding penalty kicks altogether and advancing to Wednesday’s semifinal match against Texas Tech.

The break right before that game-winning sequence showed Lie that the team’s culture had developed.

The team takes ownership, they know the standards that are set, and they make it happen. Players have bought in throughout the year, compounding that with more hard work. It was the team’s sixth straight win, and the Jayhawks are a game away from a conference championship game with momentum and belief.

“Soccer games are won a lot of different ways… but I think this time of year, more than anything, it comes to the intangible stuff that most of us coaches believe in,” Lie said. “Momentum is a real thing with any sport at any level. As long as we have it, we will ride as far as it will take us.”

Rain and wind provided some unique challenges to the game. Watts said that she couldn’t see the ball at times and that the ball took unpredictable skips. Still, the Jayhawks didn’t show any signs of slowing down. They possessed the ball and prevented West Virginia from taking control or pushing the ball toward the KU goal. Three Jayhawks had more shots in the first 10 minutes than West Virginia did in the first half.

Watts led the team with four shots in the first half. Graduate student midfielder Makayla Merlo and freshman midfielder Jillian Gregorski each tallied one. Watts said after the game that the press was necessary, and it required everyone to be on the same page and make sacrifices for the team. Even without a goal, the Jayhawks controlled possession for most of the half.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas midfielder Jillian Gregorski splits two defenders against West Virginia during the Big 12 tournament at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

Lie said the Arizona State game had been challenging because Kansas had just seen them recently and had a positive result. In preparation for the West Virginia game, it was a little easier to motivate the team, having lost to the Mountaineers on the road in late September. The Jayhawks felt that game wasn’t their best, and they were eager to prove that in the tournament.

“We as a program felt we had something to prove in this game, and we top to bottom as a program felt we were going to win this game,” Lie said. “We talked about it all week, and that’s with all respect to the opponent. We believe in what we do, and we knew we were better than in that first game.”

The Mountaineers had one shot on target late in the half, but redshirt freshman goalkeeper Sophie Dawe knocked the ball away from the bottom left of the goal. The subsequent corner kick resulted in nothing after a foul on West Virginia freshman Abbey Olexa, who had a shot on goal right before.

Fifth-year senior defender Mackenzie Boeve said the defense was locked in on its pregame keys. Lie added that the Jayhawks don’t change their defense based on what the opposing offense has. They play their game and stick to their rotations.

West Virginia increased its pressure in the final 10 minutes of the half, but the Kansas defense remained stout.

The second half was more balanced from the start. Kansas had four shots with two on goal, and West Virginia had four with two on goal. Neither team could break away, and neither team scored. Both teams had a couple of opportunities that didn’t lead to any scores, and regulation ended with a scoreless match.

The Jayhawks played the aggressive brand of soccer in overtime that they were searching for. Saige Wimes had a couple of close opportunities that didn’t come to fruition. The match remained scoreless after the first 10-minute overtime.

Finally, in the 101st minute, the levy broke. Wimes popped the ball right above Watts and a duo of defenders, and Watts kicked it across the goal to the left corner to win the game.

“It was a perfect punt by Sophie — I can’t take all the credit — and Saige had a perfect header. All I had to do was finish it,” Watts said. “I’m super proud of the team. We all played hard for a hundred minutes, which is crazy.”

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Lexi Watts scores the game-winning goal in overtime against West Virginia during the Big 12 tournament at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

During their six-game win streak, the Jayhawks have allowed only two goals. One came in a regular-season road game against Arizona State, and the other went in the first round of the Big 12 Conference tournament. The Jayhawks have scored 13 goals in that time.

“I’m super proud of this team,” Lie said. “It’s been quite the ride with ups and downs, but all you can hope for as a coach is that these athletes that pour so much into the game and into the program get the payoff. These last two months have been pretty nice — this one was very special.”

KU will continue its season on Wednesday at 7 p.m., when it plays Texas Tech in a semifinal match at CPKC Stadium.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Lexi Watts celebrates scoring the game-winning goal against West Virginia during the Big 12 tournament at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Lexi Watts celebrates with forward Saige Wimes after scoring the game-winning goal against West Virginia during the Big 12 tournament at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas head coach Nate Lie hugs forward Lexi Watts after scoring the winning goal in overtime against West Virginia during the Big 12 tournament at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Lexi Watts fights off a defender against West Virginia during the Big 12 tournament at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Lexi Watts places Kansas on the bracket as the Jayhawks move on past West Virginia during the Big 12 tournament at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Lexi Watts jumps up in celebration after marking Kansas as moving on in the bracket past West Virginia during the Big 12 tournament at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas forward Lexi Watts celebrates with teammates after defeating West Virginia during the Big 12 tournament at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.