Section B·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, August 17, 1998
'Hawks keep to goal of finals
By Brad Hallier
Kansan sportswriter
The 1998 season is looking bright for the Kansas Jayhawks women's soccer team. With 19 players returning from last year's squad, this year's team wants to earn its first berth in the Big 12 Conference tournament in San Antonio.
Dan Magner begins his second year as coach of the Jayhawks and said that he was looking forward to the 19-game season, which begins Sept. 4 in Miami against Florida International. The team also will play the University of Miami there. The team will travel to Virginia for the Sheraton Four Season Tournament Sept. 18-20 in Virginia. There, the team will play the University of Arizona and either James Madison or George Washington.
"Last year, I didn't know the players as well as I know them this year," said Magner, who was hired as coach in March of 1997, and led the Jayhawks to a 7-12 record.
The Jayhawks will add 12 newcomers, including transfers Johanna Larsson from the University of Gotenburg, Sweden, and Melissa Downing from Texas Christian.
Also new to the team this year are Magner's assistants. The team added Ellen Obleman from the University of Kentucky and goalkeeper coach Kevin Blokker.
"I can bring goalkeeping experience here," Blokker said. "I've been a goalkeeper coach for ODP (Olympic Development Program) the last four years, but I also hold an 'A' coaching license, so I can do whatever needs to be done, but my specialty is goalkeepers."
Top returning scorers are Colleen Colvin — who led the Jayhawks in points with 14, including five goals
Kansas soccer Fall 1998
Aug. 29 Drury College 7 p.m. Springfield, Mo.
Sept. 4 Florida International 2 p.m. Miami, Fl.
Sept. 6 Miami 1 p.m. Miami, Fl.
Sept. 8 Missouri 4 p.m. Lawrence Big 12
Sept. 11 Iowa 3 p.m. Iowa City, Iowa
Sept. 13 Central Missouri State 3 p.m. Lawrence
Sept. 18 Arizona 5 p.m. Harrisonburg, Va. Sheraton 4
Sept. 20 James Madison/ 12/ Harrisonburg, Va. Seasons
George Washington 2 p.m. Harrisonburg, Va. Tournament
Sept. 25 Central Oklahoma 4 p.m. Lawrence Kansas
Sept. 27 Western Illinois 12 p.m. Lawrence Tournament
Oct. 2 Baylor 3 p.m. Lawrence Big 12
Oct. 4 Texas Tech 1 p.m. Lawrence Big 12
Oct. 9 Oklahoma State 7 p.m. Stillwater, Okla. Big 12
Oct. 11 Oklahoma 1 p.m. Norman, Okla. Big 12
Oct. 16 Nebraska 3 p.m. Lawrence Big 12
Oct. 18 Iowa State 1 p.m. Lawrence Big 12
Oct. 23 Texas 7 p.m. Austin, Texas Big 12
Oct. 25 Texas A&M 1 p.m. College Station, Texas Big 12
Oct. 30 Colorado 3 p.m. Boulder, Colo. Big 12
Nov. 1 Wyoming 1 p.m. Laramie, Wyo. San Antonio, Texas
Nov. 4-8 Big 12 Conference Championship
Kristi Elliott / KANSAN
and four assists and junior Christy Clark, who paced the team in goals with six. Starting goalkeeper Jee Fecke as well.
Magner said that he would adjust the team's style and formation this season.
Last year, the Jayhawks played a flat-four on defense and a zone rather than player-to-player defense. In the spring, Magner said he experimented with a 3-5-2 (three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards). Magner also said that this year he would mix the defensive style between zone and player-to-player.
"Playing zone, it allows the team to shape well, so when you win the ball, you can go forward immediately," he said. "This year, you'll see a faster transition into the attack. Last year, we held onto the ball when we won it, but this year, we'll look to go forward immediately."
In addition, Magner is going to emphasize the importance of each Big 12 match.
12 Tournament was the team's priority. Last year, the Jayhawks finished 2-8 in the conference, which was not good enough record to qualify.
Big 12 match.
"Last year, we learned that when you don't go into those games with total focus and commitment, it will be difficult to win. With our senior leadership, they will enable the younger players to see the importance of the Big 12 contests," he said.
Magner said that getting to the Big
The conference season begins at home on Sept. 8 against Missouri. The teams to watch in the Big 12 this year include Texas A&M and Nebraska, which were both nationally ranked in the top 20 last year.
Magner also talked about achieving goals on a game-to-game basis. He said that if the team could meet those goals it would be successful.
Men expect success; Women lack depth
By Dan Forguson
Kansan sportswriter
When the University of Kansas Cross Country coach Gary Schwartz compares his men's and women's teams, he sees an extreme contrast.
Cross country teams miles apart
On one side, he sees the promise of the men's program. Key returning runners and a strong recruiting class combine to form the nucleus for a successful season.
On the other side, he sees a women's team that has lost its top two runners from last season. This loss and a depth problem add up to a rebuilding process, Schwartz said.
"The men's and women's teams are definitely on two different plateaus." he said.
Jensen and Nyanabura arrive at Kansas with high expectations. Jensen, from Denmark, is a transfer from Oklahoma State. He ran one year at the Big 12 rival.
Tate, who is expected to lead the Jayhawks this year, was competitive in nearly all of his races last year but lost strength as the season progressed. He suffered his two worst losses at the Big 12 and District championships.
On the higher plateau stands the men's squad. Junior Andy Tate and senior Lou Theobold will provide leadership for the Jayhawks. Incoming recruits Brian Jensen and Rajive Nyanbura will look to step in immediately and contribute.
Nyanbura, from Kenya, will be running his first collegiate races for the Jayhawks this season.
Last year, the men's team started off strong with a second-place finish at the Southern Illinois Invite and
continued to give steady performances throughout the year.
"We're starting with the right ingredients," Schwartz said. "Now its just a matter of putting all of the ingredients together and avoiding sickness and injury."
What they cannot avoid is the stiff competition that they will face in the Big 12 Conference and in the District V Championships. All the members of the Big 12 will provide the Jayhawks with a measuring stick of success. Colorado, Nebraska, and Baylor will provide the biggest challenges.
"There's a lot of cross-country tradition in the Big 12 Conference," Schwartz said. "If we finish in the top half of our conference, I will consider the season to be a success."
schwartz said that the team would have a 50/50 chance but that it would depend on who improved and was running well at the end of the season.
Schwartz said he would like to see his men's squad participating in the NCAA Championships, which will be held at the Jayhawks home course.
The outlook for the women's squad is much more humbling, Schwartz said.
"The two definite concerns I have with our women are the lack of experience and the lack of depth." Schwartz said. "Diane will definitely have to show leadership and lead this team all season long."
just want them to continue to improve and to be as competitive as possible." Schwartz said.
The Jayhawks lost their top two runners, Emily Miles and Lynn LoPresti, to graduation. Senior Diane Heffernan is the only returning runner with much experience.
Adding these problems to a team
Kansas cross country
Fall 1998
Sept. 12 Jayhawk Invitational
Lawrence
Sept. 26 Iona Meet of Champs.
Van Cortland Park, N.Y.
Oct. 10 Bob Timmons Invite
Lawrence
Oct. 31 Big 1.2 Championships
Lincoln, Neb.
Nov. 10 District V Champs.
Wichita
Nov. 23 NCAA Championships
Lawrence
that did not experience much success last season leaves the Jayhawks searching for answers. Other than its win at last year's Southern Illinois Invite, the team's best finish in a meet was seventh and all of its best individual times were shared by Miles and LoPresti.
Along with Heffernan, fellow senior Joanna Scollon must take the lead for the women's squad. Scollon's best finish was seventh at the season opening Southern Illinois Invite meet.
Juniors Lydia Oelschlaeger and Cynthia Smith also will look to help the Jayhawks. Oelschlaeger struggled in her sophomore campaign, running only three races with her best finish being a 6th place time at the Big 12 Championships. Smith comes into this year with two years experience to build on.
Both squads will start off the season Sept. 12 at the Jayhawk Invitational.
"This is a very tough meet to start out with," Schwartz said. "The way our schedule is set up, we'll be running in tough meets all year long. We've recruited well, and we're returning some good talent. It's just a matter of seeing how all the ingredients come together."
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