THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
PAGE 11B
SOCCER
Jayhawks look to improve on last season's success
ESTELLA LIANG
fsiang@kansan.com
The Kansas soccer team returns to the field this season with high expectations, hoping to build on last season's 10-8-2 finish. The haymakers were picked to place fifth in the Big 12 conference pre-season coaches' poll, but the team expects to do better.
Coach Mark Francis, who has
been at Kansas since 1999, said he takes no stock in preseason rankings.
"I think this group, with the way things are going, I think they are definitely
Francis
capable of competing to win the conference," Francis said. "I think that has to be our goal going into it."
The Jayhawks retain much of their experience from last year with seven returning starters. Seven newcomers have also been added to the team, including Aurélie Gagnet, who is currently playing for the French U19 National team.
Returning players include senior Caroline
Kastor, junior
jamie Fletcher
and redshirt
so phomore
Liana Salazar.
Francis said
Kastor will be
a handful for
amonging team
Kastor
opposing teams
this year and Fletcher will anchor the midfield. He also said having Salazar back after her redshirt year will benefit the team because she is a creative player. Other players returning are senior Madi Hills, juniors Haley Yearout and Caroline Van Slambrouck and sophomores Ashley Williams and Courtney Dickerson.
Kastor, who led the team with 11 goals and 24 points last season.
can move further up the record book at Kansas. She currently ranks sixth in school history for career points, with 51, and sixth in career goals, with 20. Three more goals would land her in a tie for third overall.
Francis said he expects experience to be a key factor for the season.
"I think we've got some older players in each line, somebody in the back, somebody in the mid-field, somebody up front that we will look to to organize that line of the field."
With so much time off from competition, Francis said the team is a little rusty in fundamentals. He said plays aren't as crisp or clean as they need to be, but that will improve as the season progresses.
On the other hand, Francis said the team's mentality is at the right place with the right amount of intensity. He said he is excited for the team to use this intensity in gameplay.
Kansas competes in the Big 12 conference, which fields nine teams that compete in women's soccer. Defending conference champion West Virginia was picked in the preseason poll to repeat its feat. The other teams in the conference are Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas and Texas Tech.
Games on the nonconference part of the schedule include matches against Purdue, San Diego, South Dakota State and Illinois State. The conference schedule includes games against all eight Big 12 foes, including a trip to Morgantown, W. Va. to face West Virginia. The Big 12 championship will be held in Kansas City, Kan. at Swope Park in November.
Kansas opens its season at Arkansas on Aug. 23, before returning for the home opener on Aug. 25 against Pacific.
- Edited by Elise Reuter
TARA BRYANT/KANSAN Senior forward/midfielder Caroline Kastor runs down the field toward the Jayhawk goal in a 2012 game at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Coach Mark Francis talks to the players during halftime of a spring match against the Arkansas Razorbacks in April. The Jayhawks lost 1-0.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Junior forward Jamie Fletcher kicks the ball down the field during a 2012 game at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
Soccer Schedule
8/18/2013 Nebraska-Omaha (Ex.) Lawrence, Kan. W 1-0
8/23/2013 Arkansas Fayetteville, Ark. 7:00 PM
8/25/2013 Pacific Lawrence, Kan. 12:00 PM
8/30/2013 Missouri State Springfield, Mo. 6:00 PM
9/1/2013 Purdue Lawrence, Kan. 1:00 PM
9/6/2013 Arizona Tempe, Ariz. 4:30 PM
9/8/2013 Arizona State Tempe, Ariz. 1:30 PM
9/13/2013 San Diego Lawrence, Kan. 4:30 PM
9/15/2013 San Francisco Lawrence, Kan. 12:00 PM
9/20/2013 South Dakota St. Brookings, S.D. 6:00 PM
9/22/2013 Illinois State Lawrence, Kan. 1:00 PM
9/27/2013 Santa Clara Santa Clara, Calif. 9:00 PM
10/4/2013 Iowa Ames, Iowa 7:00 PM
10/6/2013 Texas Lawrence, Kan. 1:00 PM
10/11/2013 TCU Lawrence, Kan. 4:00 PM
10/18/2013 West Virginia Morgantown, W.Va. 7:00 PM
10/20/2013 Baylor Lawrence, Kan. 1:00 PM
10/25/2013 Texas Tech Lubbock, Texas 7:00 PM
10/27/2013 Oklahoma State Stillwater, Okla. 12:00 PM
11/1/2013 Oklahoma Lawrence, Kan. 3:00 PM
11/6/2013 Quarterfinals Kansas City, Kan. (Swope Park) TBA
11/8/2013 Semifinals Kansas City, Kan. (Swope Park) TBA
11/10/2013 Final Kansas City, Kan. (Swope Park) TBA
11/15/2013 First and Second Rounds Campus Sites TBA
11/22/2013 Third Round Campus Sites TBA
11/29/2013 Quarterfinals Campus Sites TBA
12/6/2013 Semifinals Cary, N.C. (WakeMed Soccer Park) TBA
12/8/2013 Final Cary, N.C. (WakeMed Soccer Park) TBA
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