THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
SOCCER
PAGE 1B
Ryan Howe/KANSAN
Freshman goalkeeper Julie Hanley grabs the ball out of the reach of Missouri junior midfielder Elyse Nikonchuk while junior defender Holly Gautt blocks the goal during the first overtime. Hanley, last week's Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, made five saves and recorded her seventh victory Friday against Missouri, thanks to a goal from Gautt during double overtime.
Keeping the ball rolling
Kansas hits tournament with momentum
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITE
The Kansas soccer team has won six of its last seven games, and it will take that momentum into today's Big 12 Tournament round one match-up against Nebraska.
The No. 5-seeded Jayhawks (11-6-2, 6-3-1 Big 12) face the No. 4-seeded Cornhuskers (12-6-1, 6-3-1 Big 12) today at Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio.
"I think the team is pretty confident right now," Kansas soccer coach Mark Francis said. "I think we're playing well. We're confident on winning the Big 12 Tournament."
No. 22 Nebraska tied Kansas for second in the conference during the regular season. The Cornhuskers won four of their last six, as they head into the tournament they're known for dominating.
In the Big 12 Soccer Tournament's nine-year history, Nebraska has claimed the title five times and holds a 16-4 all-time record. Kansas owns a 1-4 tournament mark.
Nebraska is 2-0-0 when facing Kansas in Big 12 Tournament play and 11-1-2 all-time against Kansas. To the Jayhawks, though, it's all the same.
"Our focus right now is show up on Wednesday and play whoever we're matched up against, and hopefully continue to win games," Francis said. "Now it's the real deal."
But Kansas has shown the better play of late, outscoring opponents 18-6 in its latest seven-game run. The team won its only game of last weekend, a Senior Day double-overtime victory against Missouri. A late golden goal against its archrival puts Kansas at an advantage.
"It's good to end the year winning like we have been," junior midfielder Michelle Rasmussen said. "We're playing well when
we need to be. The win gives us good momentum going into the tournament. We can't wait to play."
Nebraska was one of two Big 12 teams to play two games last weekend and picked up a split. No. 3-seed Iowa State blanked Nebraska, 2-0, on Friday, but Texas Tech failed to do the same, falling手助, 4-1 on Sunday.
The last time Kansas and Nebraska met, they worked each other to a 0-0 draw. But the Jayhawks enter today's game under different circumstances. The last match was in Lincoln, Neb., and Kansas was in the middle of a losing skid.
This time around, the Jayhawks are on a three-game win streak, and their only loss in the last seven matches was close, 1-0 in Colorado.
Sophomore goalkeeper Colleen Quinn manned the goal last time, but freshman keeper Julie Hanley will likely stand in today. Hanley is 7-1 in her nine starts, allowing eight goals while stopping 39.
ONE LOVE
SEE SOCCER ON PAGE 5B
Kansas shooting to finish season strong
The Kansas soccer team is saving its best for last.
After struggling through their early matches, the Jayhawks have been playing their best ball lately and are heading into the Big 12 Tournament having won six of their last seven games.
Nobody could have predicted Kansas' sudden resurgence. After starting out the season in the top 25 and coming off a co-Big 12 Championship, the Jayhawks started falling. They muddled their way to a sub-par 5-3-1 nonconference record before starting the conference season 1-2-1 to put them near the bottom of the Big 12.
Friday's game was something for the ages. On a picture-perfect
Instead of sinking even lower and falling apart, Kansas put it all together, culminating in Friday's victory against Missouri that put Kansas in a four-way tie for second place in the conference.
MARK DENT
MDENT@KANSAN.COM
fall day, which included honor one of Kansas' all-time greatest senior classes, the Jayhawks battled back against rival Missouri to win in double overtime.
Senior forward Caroline Smith started the game with her 50th career goal before the Tigers took a 2-1 lead in the second half. That's when junior Michelle Rasmusen scored on a 25-yard laser shot with about 25 minutes left. The goal sent the game into overtime, when special players take over.
Junior defender Holly Gault is a special player. The day before the game, Gault was named to the Big 12 Conference 10 Year Anniversary Team, and she showed why in
the second overtime period.
Gault moved with the offense up the field, took a pass from Smith, and made a fool out of a Missouri defender before bzipping the ball past the goalkeeper into the upper left corner to give Kansas the victory.
As impressive as the Missouri game was, the victory against then-first place Texas was just as special. In another close game, senior Kimberly Karfonta knocked in the game winner with about three minutes left in regulation to give the Jayhawks their first ever triumph against the Longhorns.
Kansas' stellar freshman class is a huge reason for the team's recent success. With freshman Julie Hanley in goal, the Jayhawks are 7-1-0, Jessica Bush has more assists — six — than any other freshman in school history.
But let's not forget about the vaunted seniors either. After all, Karfonta scored the game-winning goal against Texas. Senior forward Jessica Smith recorded a hat trick against Oklahoma State two weeks ago, and Caroline Smith leads the team in every category imaginable.
It's not just the stats that show how special this senior class is. According to Kansas coach Mark Francis, the team's chemistry is better than ever, and it's developed a winning attitude.
Against Texas and Missouri, the team could have easily folded after losing leads, but they battled back instead. The Kansas players showed more determination and grit than the Tigers and Longhorns. They did not want to lose the games.
Now, with the conference tournament and NCAA tournament coming up, the Jayhawks have shed their early season struggles and are saving their best for last.
Dent is an Overland Park freshman in journalism.
VOLLEYBALL
Senior setter Andi Rozum sets a ball to senior middle blocker Josi Lima during a game against Kansas State earlier this season. The Kansas volleyball team, 12-9 overall, 4-12 Big 12, will play host to Colorado at 7 p.m. tonight at Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
'Hawks aim to stop seven-game skid Buffaloes will prove tough opponent play and 11-2 overall. They were ranked as high as 24th earlier this season. Top 25 Poll
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The Kansas and Colorado volleyball teams have gone in opposite directions since they last met.
The Jayhawks defeated the Buffaloes 3-2 in Boulder, Colo., on Oct. 1. Since then, Colorado has gone 6-1, including a current five-match winning streak, while Kansas has had a seven-match losing streak.
The Jayhawks will try to halt their losing streak when they play the Buffalooes again tonight at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
But Kansas has seen Colorado fly by in conference standings. The Buffaloes are 7-6 in Big 12 Conference play and 11-7 overall. Colorado recorded its biggest victory of the season last Saturday when it defeated eighth-ranked Missouri in Columbia, Mo. Colorado is currently receiving votes in the Top 25 Poll.
The Jayhawks go into the game 4-9 in conference action and 12-10 overall after starting the season 3-1 in conference
"They are one of the hottest teams in the conference right now," Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard said. "They have improved a lot since we last saw them."
Junior setter Ashley Nu'u leads the Buffaloes' offense. Nu'u was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on Oct. 31 for her performance in matches against Iowa State and Missouri. She is averaging 13.21 assists per game this season, which is third in the conference.
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 2B
FOOTBALL
Megan True/KANSAN
Secondary unit lifts Hawks in victory
Junior safety Jerome Kemp and senior linebacker Banks Floodman combine efforts to tackle Missouri senior quarterback Brad Smith. Kemp and Floodman had five tackles apiece in the 13-3 victory against Missouri.
Kansas defense stifles Smith
BY RYAN COLAIANNI
rcolaiani@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The Kansas secondary has gotten little use in the last few weeks from junior cornerback/wide receiver Charles Gordon. The All-American did not appear on the defensive side of the ball last week against Missouri
No Charles? No problem.
Even without Gordon, the secondary has continued to play strong.
Freshman cornerback Aqib Talbie stole the ball away from Missouri on a fumble recovery, and senior cornerback Theo Baines intercepted a pass late in the fourth quarter, which all but sealed the 13-3 Kansas victory. "The secondary was unbelievable. They didn't have guys open all day long," Kansas football coach Mark Mangino said. "If we get secondary play like that the time, we will be tough to beat."
It took the KU secondary just one conference game to show its true potential. Kansas allowed Texas Tech to throw for 333 yards on Oct. 1. In the next four games, the secondary held each quarterback to fewer than 200 yards passing.
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"Coming into Big 12 play, starting off with Texas Tech, they throw the ball 95 percent of the time," junior safety Jerome Kemp said. "I think that is probably one of the major keys that kind of got people doubting our secondary. The past couple of games we have shown them what we can do as far as the pass defense."
Baines was happy with his interception, which was his second of the year.
"We knew they were going to go deep, and I happened to look back late," Baines said. "I just thank God that I intercepted it. It was just a great play."
Baines and the rest of the secondary will need to continue their strong play this weekend against Nebraska and its west coast offense, which features timed, short passing plays that eat away at the clock.
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Kemp equated the Nebraska offensive personnel to one that they faced earlier in the season.
"They are basically almost like Texas Tech, going four or five wide," Kemp said. "We just have to practice hard and make sure we know our reads."
SEE VICTORY ON PAGE 2B
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