8B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY. OCTOBER 20. 2008
SOCCER (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Monica Dolinsky fought off an Aggie defender to slide her streaking teammate in on goal.
Once McCabe latched onto Dolinsky's pass, she took a touch towards the endline and unleashed a seeing-eye drive from a tight angle that nestled itself just inside the top corner of the back post for her third goal of the season.
"It was a battle, and I barely got it off," Dolinky said. "I heard her yell my name, and I found her."
Junior forward Shannon McCabe works around a tangle with a Texas A&M defender during Friday afternoon's 1-0 victory at the KU soccer complex. McCabe contributed the game-winning goal, her third goal of the season.
"When I hit it, time went into slow motion." McCabe said.
As sensational as the goal was, there was some disagreement on whether McCabe intended to cross the ball or take a crack on frame.
"I actually thought it was a cross," junior defender Estelle Johnson said. "I'll let you talk to her about that."
"It looked like a cross," Francis said. "But we'll take it."
McCabe wasn't so forthcoming. When asked to reveal her true intentions, she just smiled.
"I don't really think it matters," she said. "At the end of the day it went into the net. I think that should be what counts."
Rvan McGeenov/KANSAN
Even more amazingly, the goal was only the second Texas A&M has allowed in seven Big 12 games. The Aggies' (12-3-1, 5-2-1) only previous loss went to No. 2 North Carolina in College Station more than a month and a half ago. Texas A&M lost to Missouri at home on Sunday.
The victory is the first in a string of five games that will decide whether or not Kansas breaks its three-year NCAA tournament drought. Beating a Top-10 team certainly boosts the Jayhawks' post-season chances with four crucial games remaining.
"We were kind of at a turning point in our season where this was a must-win game if we wanted to get in the tournament." McCabe said, "This is my third year here, and we haven't made the tournament."
Kansas was 8-3 before a rough 0-2-1 stretch against Colorado, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma over the last two weeks. But unlike those games, the Jayhawks defended
for all 90 minutes against the Aggies and got the right bounces when it they needed them most.
"It was really intense," Johnson said of a game in which four yellow cards were handed out, all in the second half. "I think the only thing that can compare is the Oklahoma State game. They were coming constantly at us the last five minutes or so."
The Aggies began the game on the front foot as well, looking the more determined of the two sides during the opening 10 minutes. But behind its bench's encouragement, Kansas retook control through McCabe's strike while limiting Texas A&M to two shots on goal and one corner in the first half.
Five minutes before halftime freshman midfielder Beth West had the Aggies' best opportunity of the game, thumping Hanley's left post with a curling right-footed shot.
At halftime the Jayhawks shifted formations to better handle the Aggies' dangerous wide play, removing freshman forward Emily Cressy for sophomore midfielder Sarah Salazar.
Kansas nearly doubled its lead three minutes into the second half when freshman forward Kortney Clifton found McCabe with space in the penalty area. The Tulaa, Okla., native evaded her marker and crashed a shot off the near post to narrowly miss out on her second goal.
West had another opportunity to pull Texas A&M back into the game in the 71:31 minute, but her header was just wide off a corner kick.
The Aggies outshot the Jayhawks 17-9, but the home side led 4-3 in shots on goal. Francis said the victory ranks high on his list at Kansas.
"I was really proud of the kids and how hard they fought today," he said. "There really wasn't a time in the game where I felt like we lapsed."
Following the victory, players and coaches celebrated together before heading to "Late Night in the Phog" next door at Allen Fieldhouse.
KANSAS DEMOLISHES
FRANCIS MARION
Junior forward Shannon McCabe scored a hat trick and four others added a goal apiece as Kansas dominated Francis Marion 7-0 at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex Sunday afternoon.
Kansas set a school record with seven goals, and McCabe's tied
the all-time record for points in a game with seven. Junior midfielder Monica Dolinsky also had a goal and two assists for Kansas. The Jayhawks outshot their opponent 34-4 with 17 of those shots coming on goal.
Coach Mark Francis' team led 2 at half-time, but five goals in the
opening 20 minutes of the second half sealed the record-breaking victory. Sophomore midfielder Erin Ellefson scored her first career goal on a driven shot from 20 yards for Kansas' final goal.
— Edited by Rachel Burchfield
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN THE SEARCH FOR THE SHIRT ?
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN AND KU ATHLETICS ARE SEARCHING FOR THE NEW GAMEDAY T-SHIRT FOR THE STUDENT BODY.
We Need You
to help us come up with a new gameday slogan. The top 3 finalists will receive:
1 $ ^{\mathrm{st}} $ Place: iPod Touch,
A piece of the Final Four floor
& A 3 pack of posters from the '52, '88 & '08 Championships
$ ^{2 \mathrm{nd}} $ Place: iPod Nano & 1 EA Sports Game
$ ^{3 \mathrm{rd}} $ Place: iPod Shuffle & 1 EA Sports Game
GO TO to submit your ideas KANSAN.COM/THESHIRT Contest Begins Today!
notes
POSTSEASON HOPES ALIVE
Coach Mark Francis' team postseason dreams remain intact with Friday's marquee victory over the Aggies.
The victory gives the Jayhawks NCAA Tournament resume a boost, but more importantly they have solidified their spot in the conference standings. The top eight teams qualify for the Big 12 Tournament November 5-9 in San Antonio. Kansas is in seventh place on 10 points after seven games, but is six points ahead of ninth-place Baylor and Oklahoma.
Kansas has now defeated three ranked teams this season; No. 20 Purdue, No. 18 UCF and No. 6 Texas A&M.
STANDING 'O' FOR JAYHAWKS
HISTORIC KU SOCCER VICTORIES
Following Kansas' record setting victory against Texas A&M, the team was greeted with a standing ovation by the 16,300 spectators at Friday night's "Late Night in the Phoor."
Where does Friday's victory
against No. 6 Texas A&M rank among the program's 138 all-time victories?
All of Kansas' victories over ranked opponents have come with Francis at the helm. In 2004 the Jayhawks beat No. 7 Clemson 3-1 at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex and outlasted Texas A&M 1-0 in College Station on route to their only Big 12 Championship.
Two years later freshman Shannon McCabe scored with 26 seconds left to cap off a wild 4-3 victory against No. 12 Duke at home. Senior Holly Gault scored twice and freshman Monica Dolinsky added another as Kansas overcame a 2-0 deficit.
The layhawks last victory over a ranked opponent came last year against No. 18 Missouri when freshman Katie Williams scored twice to fuel a 2-1 triumph on senior day.
JACKSON PICKS UP A KNOCK
KNOCK
Sophomore defender Lauren Jackson wore a wrap around her left thigh Friday against Texas A&M. Jackson was in obvious discomfort and grimacing after making a run from her right back position late in the first half.
Free State Auto Works
841-8358 • 2103 West 26th Street
10% DISCOUNT
on ALL parts, service
& tires with Student ID
FULL SERVICE Oil Change
$18.50
includes: oil & filter change, lube the chassis, check & fill all fluids, check & inflate tires, up to 5 quarts of standard oil, oil filter, related fluids, & wheel weights.
Inspect belts, hoses, air filter, wiper blades, lights & a visual brake inspection.
European imports & diesels may be higher
three to go
No. 14 Texas (10-2-3, 3-2-2).
Oct. 24, 3 p.m.
KU all-time record against —
(1-10-2)
Last meeting — Kansas 0, No.
6 Texas 0
Baylor (5-9-2, 1-5-1). Oct. 26
1 p.m.
KU all-time record against —
(5-5-2)
Last meeting — Kansas 2,
Baylor 2
at Missouri (11-4, 5-2). Oct.
31, 6:30 p.m.
KU all-time record against —
(8-6)
Last meeting — Kansas 2, No.
18 Missouri 1
Jackson gutted out the remainder of the first half but was removed for a 13-minute period in the second half. She finished the game wearing a black compression sleeve.
Jackson watched from the bench on Sunday as her teammates thrashed Francis Marion 7-0. Francis said she could have played if necessary, but it was more important to rest her before next weekend's games with Texas and Baylor.
DOUBLE-DIGIT VICTORIES
Kansas reached the 10-victory mark for the seventime in coach Mark Francis' 10 years guiding the program. The Jayhawks are 114-75-14 under Francis with one Big 12 Championship coming in 2004.
Junior forward Shannon McCabe more than doubled her season point total against Texas A&M and Francis Marion, going from eight to 17 points. She also tied a Kansas record for points in a single game with seven against Francis Marion with a hat trick and an assist.
HUGE WEEKEND
FOR MCCABE
FRANCIS FINED BY BIG 12
Coach Mark Francis was fined $2,500 for his behavior towards the referees following Kansas' 3-2 overtime loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla. Francis confronted the officials following the game and kicked a large trashcan.
"I take full responsibility and regret my actions following the game." Francis said in a statement. "I apologize to those involved."
— Andrew Wiebe