Moore’s first goal at KU lifts Jayhawks over South Dakota State

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World
KU junior Livvy Moore looks for a play as she pushes the ball down the field during the Jayhawks' match against Missouri State on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence.
Oregon transfer Livvy Moore slotted her first goal as a Jayhawk into the top left corner of the net in the 57th minute, and Kansas walked away with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Dakota State on Sunday at Rock Chalk Park.
Moore, a redshirt junior midfielder from Deer Park, Wash., cut inside from the left wing past the Jackrabbits’ fullback Lauren Eckerle and fired her shot beyond SDSU’s diving goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart at the near post, helping earn KU a positive result on a day when the Jayhawks had struggled to convert.
“That’s why we brought her in,” KU coach Nate Lie told reporters postgame. “I think she has some special capabilities, especially in the final third.”
The Jayhawks had come up empty on 12 shots in a scoreless first half, and Jillian Gregorski later had a penalty saved by Benhart in the 84th minute.
Lie also praised freshman Mary Sola, a midfielder from Homer Glen, Ill., for her effort in chasing down Emma Brezenski on a breakaway when South Dakota State launched a counter-attack off one of KU’s five corner kicks, shortly after Moore’s go-ahead goal.
KU goalkeeper Sophie Dawe kept a clean sheet with three saves, two of which came in the final five minutes. SDSU managed just five total shots to the Jayhawks’ 16, yet remained in contention throughout the match.
“It’s the second year in a row that we’ve played this team, and it’s not the first team I’d want to play again, in the biggest compliment I can (give),” Lie said. “They’re incredibly well coached, know their system, fight to the end, lots of talented players.”
Yet KU managed to come out on top for the second season in a row, after beating SDSU 2-1 on the road in Lie’s first game at the helm last year. As Lie put it postgame on Sunday, citing a former coach of his, “The best team tends to win on Thursday night, and the tougher team tends to win on Sunday.”
Jocelyn Herrema, Emika Kawagishi and Saige Wimes tallied three shots apiece for KU to lead all players. Four Jayhawks played all 90 minutes after KU had rotated extensively in Thursday’s 5-2 victory over Missouri State.
The Jayhawks will conclude their season-opening homestand against Utah Valley on Thursday at 7 p.m.