THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011
PAGE 11
HANNAH WISE/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Senior forward Kortney Clifton chases down a loose ball alongside Baylor's Megan Grindstaff. Clifton was playing on momentum after the Jayhawks scored on a penalty kick.
Seniors nostalgic about last game at home
RYAN MCCARTHY
rmccarthy@kansan.com
When the seniors on the soccer team began their college journey, they were roommates in Jayhawk-Towers.
Now, after four years, Kelsey Clifton, Kortney Clifton and Jordyn Perdue will play in their last home game together at Jayhawk Soccer Complex on Friday against Oklahoma.
Throughout the players' careers, each have spent time as a starter, but this year they've taken a different role. With some of the underclassmen stepping up, it's been a transition.
Some players might be frustrated with the move to the bench in
their senior season, but the entire group has taken it in stride.
"Yeah it has been hard, but seeing how our team is doing so well, it's hard to be mad about that," Kortney, a forward, said.
Kortney's twin sister Kelsey, also a forward, has played in 16 games this year and has scored two goals.
A fairly reserved person, Kelsey has slowly progressed to a confident player on the field, especially with help from the coaches.
"Coming in as a freshman, the one thing I was really lacking was my confidence." Kortney said. "I knew my ability was there, but it was getting that confidence out was kind of hard. Having them there is great."
The Clifton sisters have been together every step in their soccer experience, going all the way back to elementary school when they
decided to put away the ballet slippers and strap on their soccer cleats.
Though they play the same position, Kelsey has a more outgoing personality than Kortney.
Kelsey has played in 11 games this year and recorded two shots.
"I know this is an opportunity that most girls playing soccer would love to have, and I don't take it for granted at all."
Coach Mark Francis said he thinks both Kelsey and Kortney
"If we didn't look alike, you wouldn't know we're twins," Kortney said.
After finishing last year as the team's most improved player,
have handled the transition of less playing time really well.
"It's difficult, especially your senior year, when you don't play as much as you're used to playing, but I haven't heard any complaints from
them" he said. "If anything, it's made them work harder because they want to prove that they can help us."
Even with the change in playing time, Kelsey is happy with her overall experience at Kansas.
"I know this is an opportunity that most girls playing soccer would love to have, and I don't take it for granted at all." she said.
The third senior on the team this year is Jordyn Perdue, who plays a unique role on the team.
"If things get tense in a game or at practice or playing a competition day, and we're all screaming at each other, sometimes it's okay to crack a joke and calm everyone down." Perdue said.
jokester, Perdue is also a captain this year.
"She's always been somewhat of a leader vocally, but I think she's stepped up in terms of taking control of the situation," Francis said.
Other than being the team
While all three seniors did not fill up the stat sheet this year, they all have been valuable contributors to the team's overall success.
"Everyone's got their role and you know what it is and every single role is important, whether it's on the field or off the field." Perdue said.
CROSS COUNTRY
Academic Big 12 team sets new Kansas record
The Big 12 announced that 15 Kansas cross-country runners have been named to the academic all-Big 12 cross-country teams. Fifteen is the most the team has received in the program's history.
Of the 15, there were six runners from the women's team and nine runners from the men's team. The six women are seniors Rebeka Stowe and Cori Christianson and juniors Tessa Turcotte, Allie Marquis, Kathleen Thompson and Devin Wiegers. The nine runners for the men's team are senior Austin Bussing, junior Josh Baden, Sean Proehl and Zach Zarda, and sophomores Jose Muntoz and Josh Munsch. Junior Bun Wilson and freshmen Conner Day and Josh Harsin were named to the second team.
The requirement for first team academic-all-league is a 3.20 GPA. The second-team requirement is a 3.00 GPA, and all runners must have competed in at least 60 percent of the team's scheduled races.
Each institution's director of student-athlete support services and media relations office nominated the all-conference academic selections. Overall, there were 85 selections for the women and 72 for the men in the conference.
Edited by Stefanie Penn
Max Goodwin