THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2006
FRIDAY,OCTOBER 27,2006
SPORTS
》 SOCCER
9A
Defense drives success
Jayhawks look to maintain winning streak on senior day
BY MARK DENT
Four down, one to go.
The Jayhawks are one victory away from closing out their season by winning all five of the games that Kansas coach Mark Francis called must-wins.
"I think you just realize the importance of the last five games as must-wins," Julie Hanley, sophomore goalkeeper, said. "If they weren't, it could be the end of the season. I think that really got through to people."
Kansas (11-6, 6-3) will finish its regular season and have its senior day at 3 p.m. today against Colorado at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
One of the reasons for the Jayhawks' recent success is defense. Kansas has not allowed an opponent to score in the last four games, and Big 12 Conference teams have averaged 0.33 goals per game against the Jayhawks. Hanley has been the anchor of the defense with her position at the net, but the rest of the backs have been preventing teams from even attacking the goal.
"A lot of it has to do with the 10 people in front of me," Hanley said. "They do all the work, and I just do
my job and stop the ball."
Although Hanley has been receiving praise lately, today will be all about the team's five seniors: Holly Gault, Nikki Alvarez, Jessica Kilpatrick, Lacey Novak and Michelle Mussensen.
Alvarez, a defender, has started several matches each season since her freshman year and has started every match this year except one. Novak, a forward, saved her best season for last. Francis said she was one of the hardest workers this offseason, and Novak has scored two goals this year.
Rasmussen is one of the team's captains and is best known for scoring the tying goal in last season's victory against Missouri. Kilpatrick is a fifth-year senior forward, who took last season off. Her comeback this season was highlighted by a goal against Pepperdine.
"They've done everything for us," Sara Rogers, sophomore forward, said. "They provide so much leadership and bring a lot to the team."
Gault, especially, has improved the team over the last four years. She's been named to the All-Big 12 and All-American teams. This season she showed her willingness
to help the team by moving from her former position as a defender to attacking roles. Gault's been slowed by nagging injuries this season but is coming off one of her best games of the season against Baylor, in which she had one goal and two assists.
"I'm not trying to put too much emphasis on senior day cause we're still going to be playing after this game," Gault said. "It'll be nice to have our last game in Lawrence, but I try and think about it as another game."
A red hot Colorado team (10-5-2, 4-4-1) will face Kansas this afternoon. The Buffaloes have won threestraight games after losing three in a row before that. Although it is senior day, don't expect Kansas to be distracted against its opponent.
"We'll do a little ceremony thing at the beginning, and it'll be great," Francis said. "I'm sure the team will want to take care of business so the seniors go out on a good note."
Kansan sportswriter Mark Dent can be contacted at mdent@kansan.com.
VOLLEYBALL (CONTINUED FROM 11A)
After every Kansas-serving ace on Saturday, a pink "Dig for a Cure"
"Hopefully we can get a lot of digs." Emily Brown, junior right side hitter/setter, said. "We got our families and the community involved. I think it's great."
The team will also try and pick up as many digs as possible as it is the "Dig for the Cure" match. The volleyball team has been seeking donations for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. October is the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
T-shirt will be tossed to a lucky fan. Fans are encouraged to wear pink, and pink ribbons will be given to fans at the entrance gate.
Cornish laughed politely, then got back to work. After all, there's less than 72 hours until kickoff and another chance to chase his dream.
"Jon, I'm getting that wheel chair," Mangino joked after practice Wednesday. "I'll be right back."
rounded by reporters.
Lisa Lipovac/KANSAN
Megan Hill, senior outside hitter, hits during Wednesday night's game against the Sooners. Hill averages 1.83 points per game.
Kansan senior sportswriter Ryan Schneider can be contacted at rschneider@kansan.com.
CORNISH (CONTINUED FROM 11A)
Cornish is certainly an open book, willing to speak his mind about any topic. Take the postgame press conference after last weekend's game at Baylor, for example.
"Jon is Jon," Fine said. "What you see is what you get."
Kansan sportswriter Drew Davison can be contacted at ddavison@kansan.com.
Mangino still maintained this week that based on information he was given, he thought Cornish was injured.
"What?" Cornish said after Saturday's loss. "They assumed I was injured, I just got twisted up.
I'm just fine. I could have kept going into the fourth quarter"
That comment sparked rumors of a possible feud brewing this week between Cornish and Mangino.
As Mangino made his way toward the locker room from the practice field on Wednesday night, he looked over at Cornish, sur-
A frustrated Cornish sounded off about his alleged injury, and even took a small shot at coach Mark Mangino.
If there ever was one, it certainly appears to have passed.
Edited by Elyse Weidner
Edited by Shanxi Upsdell
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