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

The Kansas Jayhawks lift the Big 12 Tournament trophy after defeating TCU at CPKC Stadium Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City, Mo. — Picked to tie for 12th in the Big 12 prior to the season, still just sixth place in the league by the end of the regular season, the Kansas soccer team stunned the conference by winning the league tournament on Saturday night.

Makayla Merlo’s penalty kick went down as the lone goal for the Jayhawks in the title game against TCU. KU beat its most difficult foe yet in the Horned Frogs, No. 7 nationally and the regular-season champions who had not lost since Sept. 5.

“I just told the team amongst the celebration that this is one of the more special moments in my career,” head coach Nate Lie said postgame. “In my life, in many ways. When you get into this profession, you do it because you want to have an impact on people’s lives and you want to be able to be some sort of educator and see growth.

“And I’ve spoken about it a lot: The growth in this group is pretty remarkable, the way that they came together, whether it was earlier in the season in our moments of adversity or just continuing throughout this tournament. Four victories in 10 or 11 days is really hard to do especially when you have to play the 1, 2 and 3 seeds back-to-back-to-back.”

The 1-0 result goes down as KU’s eighth straight victory overall, including four in the Big 12 tournament over Arizona State, West Virginia, Texas Tech and finally TCU.

“I’m so proud of this team and everything we’ve put in,” said Merlo, a fifth-year senior transfer from the Division II University of Colorado Colorado Springs who had not previously scored a goal during the season. “I don’t think anybody expected us to be here, but we put in the work all season and it shows.”

One year ago under former coach Mark Francis, the Jayhawks lost seven times in conference play and didn’t win a Big 12 game until the last day of the season. Now, in their first season under Lie, using many of the same players from that team together with some of Lie’s recruits, they are headed to the NCAA Tournament as an automatic qualifier.

Lie is the first Big 12 soccer coach to lead a team to a tournament title in his first season with the program. KU will learn its postseason opponent in a selection show to be streamed Monday on NCAA.com.

Merlo’s second-half goal arrived, like so many for KU this year, as a result of the Jayhawks’ high-pressure style.

“It takes a sense of bravery and maybe foolishness to go out and press Texas Tech and TCU back-to-back (games) without having our full legs underneath us, with us still being in year one,” Lie said. “Those two teams can pass the ball around and play under pressure better than most teams in the country. But I told the team whatever we do tonight or whatever we did Wednesday night, we’re doing it our way.”

Lexi Watts forced a mistake by TCU goalkeeper Megan Plaschko and won possession in the box. Watts got brought down immediately by TCU defender Maddie Mooney to prevent a sure goal.

“We will usually get a couple opportunities each game where even good players under pressure are going to make mistakes,” Lie said. “And Lexi made a great play to not just be there but then stay on balance, get to the ball and it was a clear PK.”

Perhaps not as clear a penalty to Watts, as the officials took some time to review the call: “When they were checking it, I had no idea if it was. At first I totally thought it was going to be and then when they were questioning it, I was like ‘Oh God.’ But I knew Merlo would take it and finish it, so kudos to her.”

In fact, Merlo volunteered to take the kick from the spot, saying later it was a result of “trust in myself, knowing I could do it.”

“One thing about her is she will not back down in the big moments,” Lie said.

On the penalty — which Lie couldn’t watch because he was too nervous — Merlo went right and Plaschko went left, allowing the Jayhawks to break the scoreless tie and go on to a Big 12 title.

They did not find it easy to get there. Off a corner kick not long afterward, TCU’s Seven Castain had a shot hit the underside of the bar and bounce out safely into the arms of KU goalie Sophie Dawe.

Dawe’s services were required early and often. TCU had outshot KU 6-2 in a scoreless first period, and in fact the Jayhawks went more than half an hour between attempts on goal as they battled to gain ground against the Horned Frogs.

The opening moments of the second half diverged from that pace, as two brilliant goal-scoring opportunities went unfulfilled on each side.

Dawe denied Caroline Kelly once from point-blank range on a breakaway and then had to sprawl out to her right to stop another attempt from Bella Diorio.

“I trust my defense,” Dawe said. “They did so much work for me. I just came up when I needed to.”

Meanwhile, Saige Wimes got into extremely threatening position twice but couldn’t muster a strong shot on either occasion, though she did draw out the first save of the match for Plaschko.

The Jayhawks improved to 13-5-4 on the year.

“It’s an incredible opportunity, and I’m so happy that we just finished the game out and won,” Watts said. “I mean, I’m so proud of all the girls on the team, we all worked hard for the whole 90 minutes, so couldn’t ask for anything more.”

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

Kansas head coach Nate Lie celebrates with the fans after defeating TCU during the Big 12 Tournament final at CPKC Stadium Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

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

Kansas midfielder Makayla Merlo celebrates with teammates after scoring against TCU during the Big 12 tournament final at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

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

Kansas midfielder Makalya Merlo celebrates with teammates after scoring against TCU during the Big 12 tournament final at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

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

Kansas midfielder Makayla Merlo places Kansas as the winner against TCU during the Big 12 tournament final at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

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

Kansas midfielder Makayla Merlo celebrates with teammates after winning against TCU during the Big 12 tournament final at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

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

Kansas forward Shea Ryan dribbles the ball downfield against TCU during the Big 12 tournament final at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

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

Kansas defender Assa Kante steps in to knock the ball loose from an opponent against TCU during the Big 12 tournament final at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

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

Kansas midfielder Kate Langfelder tries to split three defenders against TCU during the Big 12 tournament final at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

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

Kansas defender Olivia Page heads the ball against TCU during the Big 12 tournament final at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

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

Kansas forward Lexi Watts dribbles the ball downfield against TCU during the Big 12 tournament final at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.