4B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2009
SOCCER
Freshman works on finding voice
BY CLARK GOBLE
coogle@kansan.com
cgoble@kansan.com
Freshman goalie Kat Liebetrau is quiet on the field. Senior goalie Julie Hanley is loud.
Liebetrau is, according to senior defender Estelle Johnson, a "shot-stopper," while Hanley is likely better with her feet.
Their games might be the most opposite on the field, and since Liebetrau is now the starter after Hanley started for three years, there are definitely some adjustments taking place.
Johnson said the back line is working with Liebetran.
"She will definitely communicate when she has to" Johnson said. "But I think one thing we're working on with her is just getting her to be more outspoken."
Liebetrau admitted she still needed some time to adjust to being more vocal.
Follow Kansan soccer writer Clark Goble at twitter.com/cgoble89.
"My defenders, they get on me, telling me when I'm really soft," Liebetrau said. "I've been trying to be more vocal in practice."
Both Liebetau and Johnson said that communication will be key to the defense's success in the Lady Vol Invite this weekend and the season to come. Kansas takes on Pepperdine at 4:30 p.m. Friday in Knoxville, Penn. On Sunday, they match up with Arizona State at 11:30 a.m.
Senior midfielder Monica Dolinsky has already faced Pepperdine once in her career, a 3-1 loss in Lawrence. She says she likes how Pepperdine plays a similar style to Kansas'.
and try to build it," Dolinsky said. "We don't like balls over the top a lot."
Coach Mark Francis had no recollection of the meeting between the teams in 2006, but did say that their coach was a good friend of his and that they were always tough opponents.
"They like to play in the back
Pepperdine senior midfielder
Sophia "Bo"
Medina, who just
completed a stint
with the Mexican
national team,
leads the Waves.
She is a two-time
All-West Coast
Conference selec tion
in Pepperdine's season-opener on Sunday.
She may not score a ton of goals, but she has a knack for putting balls in the back of the net when it matters most. Of her 10 career goals, six ended up being the winning goals, adding to that total
So when it matters the most, it may come down to who can make the play in the clutch: the senior with national team experience or the freshman with one career start.
"My defenders, they get on me, telling me when I'm really soft."
But what Francis and Johnson like the most about Liebetrau is her ability to stop shots.
KAT LIEBETRAU Freshman goalie
"She is just really good at getting her body in front of the ball." Johnson said. "She'll do what it takes."
Johnson said that if Liebetrab can communicate better, it will
help the team immensely.
"I personally can't hear anything when I'm playing," Johnson said. "I think she just needs to come out of her comfort zone a little bit."
Edited by Alicia Banister
SOCCER SCOUTING REPORT
Game breakdown: Kansas (1-0-0) vs. Pepperdine (1-0-0) 5:30 p.m., Knoxville, Tenn. Kansas All-time Record vs. Pepperdine: 0-2 (2005, 2006)
PEPPERDINE
Formation: 4-3-3
Outlook: Pepperdine lost six starters from last year's squad, so they have a relatively young squad, but they are still looking to challenge for the West Coast Conference title this year. Last year, the Waves finished 3rd place in the WCC with a 9-9-2 record. They are coming off of an exciting overtime win over Marquette last Sunday.
Goalkeeper: Pepperdine has two underclassmen battling for the starting goalkeeper position, sophomore Lacey Heck and freshman Roxanne Barker. Barker has an impressive résumé and only allowed one goal starting against Marquette, but still lacks experience on the college level.
**Defense:** Three starters return from an impressive defense last year that boasted eight shutouts. They also have a deep bench to fill in the spot left by graduated defensive leader Kesley Bake.
Midfield: The Waves only return senior Kelly Reilly from last year's squad, but they added Michelle Spacciapolli, a transfer from Boston College, along with two younger players. Spacciapolli scored one of Pepperdine's two goals against Marguett on Sunday.
Forward: Pepperdine features a strong goalscoring presence up front with senior Sophia Medina. Medina spent the summer with the Mexican National team and scored in the 98th minute to beat Marquette.
KANSAS
Formation: 4-4-2
Outlook: The Jayhawks started with a solid win over Drake on Sunday with goals from a couple unlikely sources. Continued improvement and confidence from younger players like freshmen Whitney Berry and Kat Liebetraut will go a long way in complimenting the experienced core of the team.
Goalkeeper: Liebetrau only had one save to make in her collegiate debut on Sunday, but it was a good start nonetheless. Francis has plenty of confidence in his keeper, who he calls a terrific shot-stopper.
Defense: Kansas' defense is definitely its strong point this year. They return three starters from last year, seniors Estelle Johnson and Lauren Jackson and junior Geneva Magness, all of whom played the full 90 minutes against Drake.
Midfield: Two freshmen join two seniors in the midfield. Whitney Berry looked impressive on Sunday, scoring in her college debut and racking up five shots. Senior Monica Dolinsky will play a more attacking role as the inexperienced starters gain confidence.
Forward: Emily Cressy and Shannon McCabe combined for 17 goals last year and are looking to continue that success in 2009. They were held scoreless against Drake, but McCabe earned an assist, and the duo will likely start putting shots in the net soon.
Joel Petterson
TENNIS
Serena Williams, right, and Roger Federer, of Switzerland, pose for photographs during a news conference to promote the U.S. Open tennis tournament on Thursday in New York.
This year's U.S. Open announces schedule
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Serena and Venus Williams have met in eight Grand Slam finals, most recently at Wimbledon last month. The U.S. Open won't feature No. 9.
The No. 2-seeded Serena and No. 3 Venus are in the same half of the U.S. Open field announced Thursday, meaning they could face each other only in the semifinals of the year's last major tournament.
"It is a shame. They're the people to beat. They rise to the occasion at the big ones, especially Serena," three-time U.S. Open champion John McEnroe said.
"In interest level alone, it's too bad," added McEnroe, part of the CBS Sports announcing team at the tournament.
There won't be Williams-Williams to decide a title, but there could be Federer-Nadal. No. 1-seeded Roger Federer and No. 3 Rafael Nadal were drawn into opposite halves of the field when the draw was held behind closed doors Wednesday.
Federer is bidding for a sixth consecutive U.S. Open title, but he wasn't always so comfortable in New York.
"I used to struggle here a little bit," he said Thursday, "just because I had trouble with the wind, trouble with the humidity ... my mind would wander during the tournament."
Venus Williams could wind up facing 2005 U.S. Open champion Kim Clisters in the fourth round. Clisters recently came out of retirement and is returning to the tournament.
FC
MI