Torrid KC Roos oust Missouri State from NCAA men’s soccer tourney, play Pitt next
The Kansas City Roos of UMKC have now won two NCAA tournament men’s soccer matches since 2001.
This one, like Thursday’s triumph, was earned on the road.
The Roos (14-4-3) claimed their second tourney victory in four days Sunday evening, beating the No. 15 Missouri State Bears 2-1 in a Division I showdown at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium on the MSU campus in Springfield.
KC advances to take on No. 2 Pitt, a 1-0 winner against Cornell, in the next round — this tournament’s sweet 16.
Sunday night’s match to advance was sprinkled with international flavor. Liverpool native Harry Jolley put the Bears (12-3-3) ahead first with a goal in the 32nd minute.
The senior defender was assisted on the goal by fellow Englishman Victor Wachowicz and Bears forward Jesus Barea from Spain.
But KC equalized in the second half. At the 50:35 mark, Roos forward Sora Shibata, a junior from Japan, scored off an assist from Brevyn Cole, a sophomore defender from Olathe South High, and junior forward Elie Kisoka of France.
The Roos’ go-ahead goal arrived in the 72nd minute. Sophomore defender Ales Kohoutek (Prague, Czech Republic) delivered the strike via an assist from senior midfielder Julien Le Bourdoulous of France.
The Roos set a program record for victories this season. They entered Sunday evening’s match having won a nation’s best eight road games. That mark improves to nine.
The Roos advanced to Sunday’s game by winning their first NCAA tourney match since 2001, defeating Saint Louis 2-0 on the road Thursday.
The Roos also defeated the Bears 3-2 in a regular-season game on Sept. 2.
This story was originally published November 24, 2024 at 8:33 PM.