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Junior Liana Salazar dribbles the ball past Texas Tech defenders on Oct. 17, 2014. Salazar, a midfielder, is among seven starters returning for the season.
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
Soccer team looks to freshmen class for improvement over 2014
SKYLAR ROLSTAD
@SkyRolSports
kansas soccer was believed by most to have had a tremendous 2014 season. The team was ranked as high as ninth in the nation last year and was a favorite for the Big 12 title.
Jayhawks coach Mark Francis, however, pointed out that most of the Jayhawks' winning was done early in the year, then results started to slide in the other teams' favor.
Kansas ended up finishing third in the Big 12 after three losses in the last four games of the regular season. Then the Jayhawks bowed out of the NCAA tournament with a
"I think most, aside from [the players,] would say that last season was a huge improvement, but we were first place in the Big XII with about two weeks to go." Francis said at the team's media day press conference.
3-1 loss to Missouri in the first round.
"We didn't feel like we achieved what we could have done," Francis said. "We started it really well last year and we've got to finish it."
"A bounce of the ball our way earlier didn't go our way later on."
That's why Francis is making several changes to the team. These include implementing a new playing style and getting freshmen incorporated into the starting lineup.
and day."
and drew 2-2 against North Dakota a State, Francis kept three players in the midfield just as last season but played Salazar as an attacking midfielder with two forwards, freshman Grace Hagan and senior Ashley Williams.
in the team's two preseason exhibition games, which the Jayhawks won 5-0 over Drake
Among seven starters returning for Kansas is senior midfielder Liana Salazar. Francis said his changes to the team this season put a lot of emphasis on magnifying Salazar's impact on the game.
"You're going to see a lot more offense than we did last year just in terms of the setup of the formation," Francis said.
portance of recruiting the best players from the state of Kansas.
The most important thing for Francis and Salazar was that the freshman class is competent for starting positions going into the season.
"It's great for us we're getting the best players from the local area," Francis said. "If you've got kids in your own backyard that are good enough to
Hagan, who came to Kansas from Wichita, and freshman
play for us and make us better, you've got to get them."
Francis also noted the difference new venue Rock Chalk Park made in his recruiting ability. He said the difference from the team's former playing field to the new one was "night
"If you've got kids in your own backyard that are good enough to play for us and make us better, you've got to get them." MARK FRANCIS Women's Soccer Coach
midfielder Parker Roberts, a freshman from Overland Park who has previously played for the women's U-20 national team, are expected to be big contributors to the Jayhawks this season.
Francis emphasized the im-
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