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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY RANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2008
SPORTS
SOCCER
7B
Communication key for team in Border Showdown Friday
Defense has allowed only one goal in past three games after Boyer's move
BY JAYSON JENKS
jjenks@kansan.com
In arguably the biggest moment of her young career, sophomore Katie Williams didn't fully grasp the situation.
Last year against border rival Missouri, Williams headed in two goals as the Jayhawks knocked off the Tigers 2-1. But it wasn't until later that the defender completely comprehended the degree of her accomplishment.
"I didn't really understand the significance of the KU-Missouri battle," Williams said. "But now
I do. It means more to me now than it did to me then."
On Friday, William s. a Houston native, and the rest of the defensive unit will once again play a major role
in the Kansas-Missouri rivalry. Entering the regular season finale against the Tigers; the Jayhawks have allowed just one goal in four games.
"Our defenders have to be able to play under pressure and be composed on the ball."
And they've done so with a balanced meshing of defensive pieces. Take Kim Boyer and Estelle Johnson for example. Boyer provides the Jayhawks with an offensive presence from the defender position, while Johnson, a self-described defensive-minded player, often covers those forward pushes.
and has learned a lot quickly.
But Boyer isn't the only one. The entire defensive unit has meshed and progressed as the season's continued. The same mistakes that cost the Jayhawks a few victories earlier this year, coach Mark Francis said, have been corrected.
"When other teams look at us, they don't really know where to focus their scouting report," Johnson said. "We have such versatile players they can't really focus on trying to shut us all down."
Perhaps the most versatile Jayhawk is Boyer. The junior began the year as Kansas' first substitute at forward before becoming a starting defender in the Oklahoma game three weeks ago.
Part of that improvement came by way of playing together. The majority, though, had a direct correlation with enhanced communication between members of the defense.
The layhawks have allowed just one goal after that game.
MARK FRANCIS
Soccer coach
"She's been incredible," Williams said. "Her long leg... Geez. She's really meshed with the defense
"Communication-wise, we're getting used to each other as the
season progresses," goalie Julie Hanley said. "A lot of it is communication, covering for each other and being in the right spot."
Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN
While communication may have once been an area of concern for the
Jayhawks, athleticism has not. And arguably the most athletic player on the team also happens to be a defender.
Sophomore Lauren Jackson Kansas's fastest player, provides the Jayhawks with the sheer athleticism needed to simply stick with quality offensive players.
"We have to be athletic enough to deal with athletically gifted forwards," Francis said. "The other thing is with our style of play. We try to possess the ball. Our defenders have to be able to play under pressure and be composed on the ball."
Only this time around, Katie Williams enters the game with a complete understanding of the rivalry.
"It's going to be like a blood-bath," Williams said. "It's always going to be a battle."
That all will be tested on Friday. Missouri plays a high-pressure, physical style of play that will no doubt challenge the Kansas defense.
Edited by Brenna Hawley
Kryan McGuerey/KANSAN
Junior forward Shannon McCabe, left, and junior defender Estelle Johnson embrace after the Jayhawks' 1-0 victory over Texas A&M Friday afternoon. McCabe scored her third goal of the season during the game.
Struggling Chiefs replace majority of kicking unit
As a rookie free agent, Barth had competed with Novak throughout training camp and been among the final cuts before the season opener.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Chiefs (1-6) signed tree agent long snapper Thomas Gafford on Wednesday and placed Jean-Philippe Darche on injured reserve. Darche, the long snapper since 2007, injured his knee in last week's 28-24 loss to the New York Jets. He continued playing and the severity was not realized until Monday.
Last week, the Chiefs released place kicker Nick Novak, who had missed four of 10 field goal attempts, and summoned rookie Connor Barth from North Carolina, where he had been working at a golf course.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. Misfortune continues to dog the struggling Kansas City Chiefs, who now are having to scramble to find replacements for almost their entire kicking unit.
In addition, punter Dustin Colquitt could miss a second straight game with a groin injury. Colquitt, averaging 47.9 yards, is one of the few Chiefs players
NFL
near the top in any meaningful statistical category.
He did not practice on Wednesday, and coach Herm Edwards did not sound encouraged about his status for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. He was replaced by another free agent who had been out of the league, Since Weatherford.
Edwards has already lost his top two quarterbacks to season-ending injuries and starting running back Larry Johnson will be out at least a third straight game and maybe longer.
Darche will undergo knee surgery.
"You don't expect these things to happen to your long snapper," Edwards said. "We've done it all on our special teams — kicker, long snapper and punter. Other than that, we're OK."
Also unable to practice on Wednesday were cornerbacks Patrick Surtain and Dimitri Patterson and running back Jamaal Charles.
Johnson met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in New York but was at practice Wednesday. He was benched the last two games for breaking team rules.
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