After scoring the game-winning goal, junior forward Ashley Williams celebrates with senior midfielder Jamie Fletcher. The Jayhawks played against UMKC on Sunday. Kansas won 1-0 against its opponent, firing 12 shots on goal compared to UMKC's three.
FRANK WEIRICH/KANSAN
BEN CARROLL
@BCarroll91
Kansas soccer continued its historic start to the season by winning a pair of home games this weekend. The Jayhawks improved their record to 8-0, which is the best record to start a season and the longest winning streak in program history.
The Crimson and Blue came into the weekend with plenty of momentum built up after sweeping two games in Colorado last weekend, vaulting them into the top-25 rankings at No. 20.
On Friday night, Cal State Northridge came to Lawrence on a cold, windy night hoping to cool down the Jayhawk offense, but came out unsuccessful. Senior midfielder Jamie Fletcher returned to action after missing the first six games due to injury. She scored ten goals in her first three seasons at Kansas and didn't waste time adding another.
Fletcher scored the first goal of the match in the 74th minute, which ended up being the game winner as the Jayhawks shutout the Matadors. Kansas added another goal just before time
expired as junior forward Ashley Williams picked up a pass from senior forward Ali Kimura to score her second of the season and secure the team's seventh victory.
"I thought we did a really good job at staying focused and it came together at the end."
ASHLEY WILLIAMS Junior forward
The final score was 2-0,
good for Kansas' third
shutout of the season.
"I was happy with the performance," coach Mark Francis said. "It was a bit of a fight, and we knew we would get that from these guys, but I'm glad we were able to pull it out in the end."
On Sunday, the University of Missouri-Kansas City made the 45-mile trip to Lawrence to take on the undefeated Jayhawks. Like Friday, neither team scored in the first half.
Although Kansas didn't score in the first half, it still dominated the offensive possession and had 13 shots to UMKC's zero. The
Jayhawks had several good scoring opportunities, but a couple of diving saves by Kangaroo goalkeeper Nina Tzianos helped keep the game scoreless.
Scoring was hard to come by in the second half, too. It wasn't until the 82nd minute when junior forward Ashley Williams scored a goal to put the Jayhawks up late. It was the only goal Kansas needed.
Kansas led the way and controlled most of the scoring opportunities with 27 shots and 12 on goal. UMKC only recorded three shots.
"That's kind of soccer," Williams said. "You can outplay a team and still not score a goal. I thought we did a really good job at staying focused and it came together at the end."
UMKC made a late push, but it wasn't enough when the final whistle blew and Kansas won 1-0, notching its second shutout of the weekend and fourth of the season.
"I was a little bit disappointed with our lack of focus in the beginning of the game, but the second half was better," Francis said.
Edited by Drew Parks
KENNEDY BURGESS/KANSAN
Kansas sophomore Morgan Williams fends off a UMKC defender Sunday afternoon. The Jayhawks won the game 1-0, improving their record to a historic 8-0.
Kansas volleyball finishes 3-1 at Villanova Classic
KYLE PAPPAS
@KylePan
The No. 24 Kansas volleyball team (9-2) finished 3-1 at the Villanova Classic in Philadelphia over the weekend. The Jayhawks won their first three games handily, but fell to defending national champion Penn State in straight sets in their final match.
The volleyball team huddles together at a match against UMKC at Horejsi Family Athletic Center. Kansas finished 3-1 at the Villanova Classic this weekend.
"It's really important to start with a 3-0 win. We played so much volleyball this weekend that if we can come out, do good work and not have to overextend ourselves, that's the route to go."
MICHAEL OBRIEN/KANSAN
RAY BECHARD Kansas volleyball coach
the Wildcats trouble at the net all game as well, recording a season-high 10 blocks.
Kansas breezed through its first three matches, kicking off the Classic with a win in straight sets against Villanova (4-7), 25-12, 27-25, 25-19 Friday. Freshman setter Ainise Havili led the way for the Jayhawks, recording her third consecutive double-double, with 33 assists and 11 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Tayler Soucie gave
"It's really important to start with a 3-0 win," coach Ray Bechard said. "We played so much volleyball this weekend that if we can come out, do good work and not have to overextend ourselves, that's the route to go."
The Jayhawks kept the momentum rolling into the second match later in the day, defeating four-time defending Ivy League champion Yale (2-4) in straight sets, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21. Soucie was a major contributor again, this time logging a career-high .652 kill percentage with nine kills and no kill errors. Freshman middle blocker Kayla Cheadle led the team with 12 kills and sophomore libero Cassie Wait chipped in 20 digs.
"There were stretches during the Yale match that we played as well as we've played all year," Bechard said.
Kansas began Saturday by beating defending Patriot League champion American (5-4) in four sets, 19-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-17. After dropping the first set, the Jayhawks battled back with a series of scoring runs, jumping out to a 7-1 lead in the third set, and then a 10-1 lead to begin the fourth. Senior outside hitter
"American played at a level that we knew they were going to play at," Bechard said. "They are very clean offensively, but we just couldn't get into a defense rhythm. I thought we were siding out OK, but
Chelsea Albers led Kansas, recording a double-double, logging 11 digs and a career-high 22 kills.
In their final match, the Jayhawks ran into defending national champion Penn State, dropping the game in straight sets, 10-25, 25-27, 23-25. After a brutal first set, Kansas recovered to give the Nittany Lions a difficult time in sets
defensively we finally settled down in the second set. We really played well after that."
"There are some things to take away from this to feel good about, but we won't settle for a three-set loss either,"
two and three, but ultimately the defending national champions were simply too much. Freshman outside hitter Madison Rigdon finished with a team-leading 11 kills and a .333 kill percentage.
Bechard said. "Even though sets two and three were close, you've got to find a way to at least get one of those to extend the match."
Kansas will return to action Friday when it takes on North Texas at Horejsi Family Athletics Center at noon.
Edited by Ben Carroll