8A the university daily kansan
sports
Lone Longhorn goal tops Kansas in defensive struggle
monday, October 6, 2003
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
In the first half of its Texas two-step this weekend, the Kansas women's soccer team fell to the Texas Longhorns in a 1-0 heartbreaker.
The Jayhawks and Longhorns battled in what was one of the most physical soccer games Kansas coach Mark Francis has seen in his tenure. Even with the loss, hanging tight with a team who was ranked in the top-five to start the season is a confidence builder for Kansas.
"We're not going to play anybody who's better than these guys," Francis said. "These guys beat us 4-1 last year, and to be honest we weren't in the game, and we were in the game and could have won the game today. That's a big step for us."
Even though both teams were able to dish out physical punishment equally, the Longhorns were able to get 10 shots on goal, while the Jayhawks could only manage two.
Early on, most eyes in the nearcapacity crowd were on Kansas' sophomore scoring sensation Caroline Smith, who was limited to play at less than 100 percent with an ankle injury.
Not only was Smith contained in the first half, but so were both teams' offensive attacks. While the Jayhawks were unable to muster a
shot on goal in the first 45 minutes, Texas only got two. Both shots were stopped but not by much.
Kansas junior goaltender Meghan Miller held the Jayhawks together with first a sliding save to stuff a one-on-one breakaway opportunity for the Longhorns, and then diving from left to right to snag a laser-like shot from Texas' Katie McBain.
In the second half, Kansas was able to create some offense, but only put two shots on the goal, while Texas brought a barrage of attacks by getting eight clean opportunities.
After a goal early in the second half for Texas was wiped off the scoreboard because of an offsides call, Miller resembled a brick wall in the Kansas net.
Whether it was by piruetting or by the use of one hand, Miller was unbeatable until the 81st minute.
First, the Jayhawks had a ball bounce off the bottom of the Texas crossbar, dropping inches shy of a goal. Then the Longhorns' Kelly McDonald made them pay by scoring the game's only goal just seconds later.
Kansas' only other opportunity to tie came when Caroline Smith's header barely drifted over the Texas net, but it did not matter, as an offsides penalty negated the play.
Miller's one goal allowed did not tarnish her performance, which drew praise from the Jay.
hawk faithful in the stands. Miller "Hopefully we'll learn a little bit from it and not be OK with losing."
Caroline Smith Sophomore
finished the game with nine saves and a positive outlook toward the rest of the conference season.
"It was one of my more consistent games," Miller said. "We gave up a goal with eight minutes left, but I was real proud of the way they battled for the last eight minutes of the game. We didn't hang their heads for a second. I don't think the loss is going to hurt us."
For coach Francis, Smith's injury was an inconvenience, but he said the boost added by senior defender Maggie Mason, junior midfielder Gabriela Quiggle and others off the bench to pick up the pace was a good sign. Even though the 1-0 loss offered the Jayhawks multiple moral victories, the added mark in the loss column will be tough to forget.
"Hopefully we'll learn a little bit from it and not be OK with losing," Smith said. "We shouldn't have lost today and we did. Everything's in our control."
Edited by Erin Riffey
Kansas junior goalkeeper Meghan Miller barreled down on Texas junior forward Kelly Wilson during the second half Friday. The Longhorns sent a barrage of 10 shots at Miller, who blocked the shot but let one by in the Jayhawks' 0-1 defeat.
Eric BraenyKansai
COLLISON: Injuries do not appear career ending
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12A
Zorn said a full recovery was expected for Collision, and he may be back in time for next season's summer league, in July.
He said the injury was caused by normal basketball contact and that Collison was not susceptible to shoulder injuries. During Collison's junior season at Kansas, he had an MRI on his shoulder that revealed no damage.
The checkups before the NBA draft also revealed no problems.
"I've strained my shoulders before ... but it's totally different than here," Collison said. "Here was a definite out and in."
Collison was expecting to have a good season after a strong showing.
"An injury such as this to a young player that we have high hopes for is very disappointing.
Nate McMillan Seattle Coach
ing this summer with Team USA.
His performance this summer helped him earn respect from some of the NBA's best players.
"The guy who has impressed me the most is Nick Collison," said Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers guard, during the summer tournament. "That's my pick for Rookie of the Year."
Collison has to wait until next year to see if Iverson was right. At the press conference, Collison said he was addicted to the basketball and was disappointed about having to sit out all year.
"I've never had to sit out very long," Collison said. "I tried to find someone who said I could play, but I couldn't."
Collison's coach. Nate McMillan, said he was excited about working with Collision, but injuries are part of the game.
"An injury such as this to a young player that we have high hopes for is very disappointing," McMillan said. "You have to adjust and go forward, which is what we'll do."
— Edited by Jonathan Reeder
CROSS COUNTRY: Women's team unhappy with performance, looks to nationals on Oct. 18
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12A
"I'm a bit disappointed at where we finished as a team on the women's side." Redwine said. "They will get better throughout the year and we are very optimistic about our team."
The women were led by junior Megan Manthe. She covered the six-kilometer course in 22:06, finishing 22nd.
Senior Laura Lavoie, competing in her first race of the season, was Kansas' second runner, finishing 50th.
Senior Lauren Brownrig, finished 44th; freshman Laura
"People are going to be a lot smarter when it comes to running PreNationals."
Arrah Nielsen senior
Major, 45th; and freshman Jesse Violand, 57th, rounded out the scoring for the women.
"We were disappointed," senior Arrah Nielsen, a Kansan editorial columnist, said. "There were good individual performances but overall we weren't
happy with how we raced."
Nielsen, who was the Jayhawks sixth runner, said the team went out too fast and couldn't keep the pace at the end of the race.
The six-kilometer course is the longest distance the team has raced this year.
"It was still a good experience for us," she said. "People are going to be a lot smarter when it comes to running Pre-Nationals."
The Jayhawks will compete Oct. 18 at the NCAA Prenationals Invitational in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
— Edited by Jonathan Reeder
MIDWEST