photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas coach Nate Lie directs his team against West Virginia on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 at Rock Chalk Park.

Playing in front of 3,017 fans at South Field in Provo, Utah, the Kansas soccer team spoiled BYU’s senior night and came away with a 3-1 road victory on Thursday night.

The Jayhawks struck early and often, with three goals in the first 24 minutes, and conceded just once in the second half despite being outshot an uncharacteristic 12-3 over the course of the final 45, as the Cougars morphed into “as dynamic of a team as I’ve ever seen,” as KU coach Nate Lie put it in a video posted on social media.

“The crowd was spurring them on,” Lie said. “It felt a bit of like a fortress. It was intimidating, it was suffocating, and if I felt that a little bit on the sideline, then I’m sure our players felt it as well … Thankfully, multiple players on our team stepped up in those moments, and delivered performances and plays that probably hadn’t seen that level of commitment up until this year.”

Saige Wimes, Jillian Gregorski and Lexi Watts had netted once apiece in the first half for the Jayhawks, who improved to 11-3-3 overall and 5-3-1 in Big 12 play. They are still in a tie for sixth in the league standings thanks to UCF’s upset win over Baylor, but with two matches left they are five points clear of ninth place; the top eight teams make the conference tournament. Also, KU will surely get an RPI boost after, as the No. 16 team in the nation, adding a road victory over No. 24.

“This one felt like a postseason match,” Lie said. “We played a great opponent. BYU is excellent, super talented. They were missing one of their best players, which hurt. Young, but they put a lot of pressure on you in a lot of different ways.”

The Cougars got five shots apiece from Mika Krommenhoek and Ellie Walbruch, but Walbruch’s 55th-minute ground ball through the legs of KU goalkeeper Sophie Dawe, assisted by Afton Perry, resulted in their only goal.

Dawe made five saves, including one on a line drive from Kate Denney off a corner kick shortly after halftime, and another on Walbruch’s late free kick.

Wimes’ first goal arrived in the eighth minute at the near post when she got a touch to Livvy Moore’s cross off a short corner.

Gregorski had the most impressive goal of the night with a long-range effort. She cut to her left just outside the box and wedged a shot between Izzi Stratton and Avery Frischknecht. BYU goalkeeper Paiton Collins dove to her left but couldn’t quite get a hand on the ball, resulting in Gregorski’s seventh goal of the season.

Watts concluded the scoring for KU midway through the first half off a sequence in which the ball bounced the Jayhawks’ way: Wimes’ cross went too far for the KU forwards clustered in the box but rolled to Kate Langfelder, who served the ball in to Gregorski for a header. Her shot went over Collins, but hit the crossbar and dropped right to the feet of Watts, who scored from point-blank range.

“I think fortunately, we were able to get off to a flying start,” Lie said. “We like to pride ourselves on playing at a different tempo than most people, and sometimes it takes opponents a little bit to adjust. Thankfully in this game we were able to translate that into goals, and sort of punish the opponent. We’re up 3-0 before they really even had their legs underneath them.”

Gregorski and Watts finished with three shots apiece; all of Watts’ were on target. Freshman defender Avery Rasmussen played six minutes for KU, her first appearance in three weeks and fourth overall in conference play.

The Jayhawks will remain in the Beehive State for several days and face Utah in Salt Lake City on Sunday at 2 p.m. Central time.