VOLLEYBALL Big 12 coaches recognize two newcomers for preseason honors PAGE 3B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2004
Soccer blasts Creighton
www.kansan.com
Five players score in season-opening exhibition game at SuperTarget Field
BY KELLI ROBINETT
krobinett@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Junior forward Jessica Smith scored two goals Saturday, leading the Kansas women's soccer team to a 6-1 victory over Creighton in an exhibition game at SuperTarget Field.
Smith scored the first goal of the game at the 7:55 mark with a rare assist from senior goalie Meghan Miller. She scored her second goal in the 34th minute when she received a pass from senior midfielder Amy Geha and drove past the remaining defenders to maneuver the ball past the goalkeeper.
"I feel great and healthy," Smith said. The team chemistry is awesome, and I was fortunate to get those two goals."
Smith had an injury-plagued 2003 season but started against Creighton because she has been one of the team's top three
KANSAS 6 - CREIGHTON 1
See the box score from this game on page 6B
forwards in the pre-season, said coach Mark Francis.
"She had a rough year last year with her injuries," Francis said. "She has been playing well recently, and I'm happy she got the goals."
In addition to Smith's two goals, sophomore defender Holly Gault scored an unassisted goal in the 17th minute, junior forward Caroline Smith added one in the 30th minute and senior forward Rachel Gilfillan punched one in during the 39th minute to close out a five-goal first half for the Hawks.
Leading by five at the break, only a handful of starters returned for the second half, coming in at the 65th minute to
"I wanted to give everyone a chance to play today." Francis said.
Sophomore defender Lacey Novak scored in the 52nd minute and recorded the only goal for Kansas in the second period.
finish the game.
Miller allowed no goals and helped her own cause by punting a ball from her own goal box so far that Jessica Smith took it off the bounce and kicked it in for a goal.
"I whacked the crap out of the ball, and Jess did a good job finishing," Miller said. "I love getting assists."
The Kansas defense held Creighton scoreless for 84 minutes before losing the shutout to a floating goal that sailed over the head of junior goalie Erin Ferguson.
"We didn't get the shutout today." Miller said. "But it's only pre-season, and we bounced back well after they scored."
Francis said the victory was a good warm-up for the team, but it needs to
improve in several areas before the beginning of conference play.
"The overall intensity was good today," he said. "But we need to work on our continuity."
The Jayhawks committed six more fouls than Creighton. They also recorded six off-side penalties, one of which caused a goal by sophomore mid-fielder Jessica Kilpatrick to be waved off.
Kansas had as many goals as Creighton did shots. For the game, Kansas out-shot Creighton 15-6 and booted five extra corner kicks.
A crowd of 628 people came out to watch the exhibition game.
The women's soccer team will begin the 2004 regular season next weekend when it travels to Las Vegas, Nev. to play UNLV on Aug. 28. Its next matchup will be against BYU on Aug. 30 in Provo, Utah
Defensive line looks for aid
Edited by Ashley Bechard
BY RYAN COLAIANNI
rcolaianni@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Editor's Note: As the Kansas football team prepares for its season opener against Tulsa on Saturday, Sept. 4, sportswriters Ryan Colaianni and Jonathan Kealing will be taking a position-by-position look at the team's depth chart. A position breakdown will appear every day leading up to the game.
Senior defensive tackle Travis Watkins charged against Baylor two seasons ago. He only played in two games last season because of an injury before the first game but could play a vital role for Kansas on the defensive line this season.
When a football team gives up an average of 412.6 yards of total offense a game, it needs help.
That is the huge number that the Kansas defense allowed last season, and if the unit is to get needed help this season, it starts up front with the defensive line. The defensive line needs to get more pressure on the quarterback to cut down the number of passing yards given up and needs to clog the middle in order to stop the run.
"We have more speed and a little more nastiness," coach Mark Mangino said. "I know we will be better on defense next year."
year.
The speed that Mangino is talking about begins with senior defensive end David McMillan, who is the line's only returning starter. McMillan finished last season with 31 tackles including three sacks he also had an interception and a fumble return for touchdowns. McMillan, a Killeen, Texas, product, was also the team's fifth leading tackler during his sophomore season with 55 tackles.
"I am a senior, this is my last year. I have to give them someone to look up to, he a good example." McMillan said.
File Photo
McMillan will need to also help stop the run as the team gave up nearly 200 yards rushing per game last season including 32 rushing touchdowns.
Also helping the defensive line should be senior defensive tackle Travis Watkins, who only played in two games last season due to an injury he sustained just before the first game of the season. Watkins had
started in all but one game in his freshman and sophomore seasons. He had 75 tackles in those seasons and with him healthy this season, he should give a boost to the unit.
Mangino also received clearance for junior Charlton Keith to play this season.
what we need," Mangino said. "We need to be better at pass rushing off the edge and he can do that very well."
Keith, who played his freshman season at the University of Minnesota and led the Gophers in sacks during his red shirt season, looks to bolster the defensive line. Keith spent most of the summer focusing on academics to ensure his place at Kansas.
Keith has a lot of work to do because he did not participate in spring practice
"He can come off the edge and that is
SEE DEFENSE ON PAGE 6B
JEAN SHORT MADNESS
RYAN GREENE
rgreene@kansan.com
Forget ESPN:
Greene has his own all-time list
So this summer was the first one I stayed to "enjoy" in Lawrence. Apparently, I missed the memo about how boring it is. Anyway, in my three-month quest to kill time as quickly as possible, I was re-acquainted with an old friend — television.
I'll admit, I became a countdown junkie, and of course that meant I had to find a way to incorporate that into the Jean Short Madness. I resurrected an old column idea I had about two years ago, and I now present to you Ryan Greene's Top 5 Moments of AllTime as a Student at Kansas Football/Basketball Games.
I discovered that every channel now has its own countdown list. They range from the 100 Most Metal Moments on VH1 to the Top 100 Celebrity Makeovers on E! to the ESPN Top 25.
Before I start, let me just clear up that this omits all games I have attended to cover for the Kansan or call play-by-play for JKHJ. Therefore, you will miss out on moments like David Padgett's giving-the-middle-finger-to-all-of-his-critics-with-a-game-winning-jumper against Missouri last March. Also out is the basketball team blowing a monumental first half lead and getting served hard by Arizona's Luke Walton and Jason Gardner in the Fieldhouse two years ago (this was not a favorite moment, but the only time I've ever been more in disbelief in my life was when Jim turned down sex with Nadia in American Pie 2... TWICE!).
5) Nov. 11, 2000 — This day ruled from start to finish. It must have been six degrees outside at kickoff, but it was all forgotten when the 4-5 Jayhawks took a 14-0 lead against national powerhouse Texas. The feeling for those six minutes while the Jayhawks had that lead was the most euphoric sensation I've ever had at a Kansas sporting event to this day.
Plus, before this countdown begins. I must thank my buddy Pump for coming up with the name Jean Short Madness for this column. For anyone who read the Free For All last year, it makes perfect sense. (I no longer own jean shorts. If anyone can give me the exact date and time they went out of style, it would be much appreciated.)
Then, the Jayhawks' only score the rest of the day came on a blocked extra point they returned for two points. Final score: Texas 51, Kansas 16. The funniest part of the day was Kansas cornerback Andrew Davison. Earlier in the week, he proclaimed himself the Big 12's top defensive back. He even showed that it could be half-true when
New Kansas softball assistant has experience
SEE LIST ON PAGE 2B
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Sewell was added to the Jayhawks' staff last week to be an assistant coach to Bunge. The move should come as no surprise, as Sewell is definitely no stranger to her new boss.
As her former coach, Kansas softball coach Tracy Bunge knows what Jennifer Sewell can bring to a team. Now her players will have the opportunity to find out as well.
Bunge recruited her to play catcher while coaching at Ohio University and had the opportunity to watch her develop as both a player and a leader. In her four-year playing career, Sewell
was a key component of Ohio's team. Her resume includes an all-Mid American Conference selection and a team Most Valuable Player Award, all while serving as co-captain.
As a coach, Sewell has served as an assistant at Princeton
SEWELL
University since her playing career ended in 2000, joining then first-year coach Maureen Davies.
During her time in the Garden State, the Tigers won Ivy League championships in 2002 and 2003 capturing berths in the NCAA tournament both seasons.
The program also broke the school record for wins in a season in 2002.
Last season, Sewell took over head coaching duties on an interim basis when Davies took maternity leave.
Bunge said she wasn't surprised at Sewell's success and expects her winning attitude to be a big plus at Kansas.
"Jen had a great presence as a student-athlete", Bunge said. "She was extremely talented in addition to being a great leader, which is something that will translate into very positive things to the program."
Sewell's main responsibilities on the field will be working with Kansas' young catchers and middle infielders
Bunge thinks that Sewell's biggest impact could be on the Jayhawk hitters. Kansas finished 2004 with a team batting average of .205, which was dead last among Big 12 Conference clubs.
but she will help Bunge coach on the offensive side as well. Off the field, she will also help spear head the recruiting effort.
"I want to bring more confidence to the players both offensively and defensively," Sewell of what she hopes to bring to the team.
"We also want to fine-tune the recruiting process, which will help increase the national prominence of the program."
We struggled offensively last sea
"I couldn't be more thrilled to be here," Sewell said. "This is an opportunity of a lifetime for me. It is exciting to be working with coach Bunge, especially since she left (Ohio) before I started playing there. She is a true player's coach and a great person."
As for Sewell, she feels that Kansas is right where she belongs.
son," Bunge said. "I think Jen will bring a new approach and a new energy that will be very beneficial."
Sewell's hiring fills the assistant coaching vacancy left by the departure of Julie Wright, who departed Lawrence to take the head coaching job at the University of Akron.
—Edited by Steve Schmidt