LAWRENCE, Kan.- In the final road contest of the year, the SIUE women's soccer team dropped a 3-0 decision Friday afternoon to the Kansas Jayhawks.

SIUE, 8-6-1, returns home Sunday to finish the season against Austin Peay.

Kansas, 6-13, took a 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of first-half tallies. Kortney Clifton and Whitney Berry scored within three minutes of one another to put KU up 2-0. The Jayhawks out-shot the Cougars 15-3 in a decisive first period.

"We started really tentatively today," SIUE Head Coach Derek Burton said. "We may have been giving them a little too much respect. They were on us and in our end a lot."

SIUE goalkeeper Claire Lovercheck made five of her six saves in the first half.

Burton said he was pleased with the way the team responded at halftime.

"The second half was much better," Burton said. "That's a positive sign. When you go on the road at a Big 12 opponent and you finish strong that's a good thing."

Kansas outshot SIUE in the second half, but only 3-2. Clifton scored the Jayhawks' third goal of the game in the 53rd minute.

Devon Thomas paced the Cougars with two shots, including one on goal. Mary Kate Reed also had a shot on goal for SIUE.

The Cougars finished the road season with a 3-4-1 mark away from Korte Stadium.

"It's an improvement from last season," Burton said. "Our returners next year will have confidence knowing they can go on the road. That will be important playing an OVC schedule."

The Cougars will honor three seniors Sunday afternoon against the Lady Govs. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

"We'll get our focus back," Burton said. "It will be good for being at home, honoring our seniors Sunday."