6B SPORTS
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
》 SOCCER
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2007
Potential starters stack team roster
BY ALISON CUMBOW
acumbow@kansan.com
The KU women's soccer team will start its fall season on Aug. 30 with an opening game in Hawaii.
The team added 10 new players this year. All of them have been up to par with the veteran players, even challenging them for their starting spots.
On Monday coach Mark Francis and some players fielded questions about the upcoming season as part of Fall Media Day. One of the hottest subjects was the competition for starting roles.
"I don't think anybody thinks that their starting spot is secure, and I think across the board everybody is concerned that they're going to have to bring it every day in practice," Francis said. "There are five or six positions where the returning players are going to be challenged by the new kids. That's great for us as a program, but it's a pain in the neck for a coach."
The players at Fall Media Day felt the same as their coach about the competition created by the performance of
the new team members.
that we need them to have a winning season" she said.
McCabe said there was no excuse for the team not to win the Big 12 conference this year, or at least be a major contender. She said the team could compete with its top-level competition and be on the same level as the top 10 teams in the country.
Francis said that there would be very little breathing room in the team's schedule. He said that the
"I think across the board everybody is concerned that they're going to have to bring it every day in practice."
"There are four or five girls who could potentially play at a few positions," junior goalkeeper Julie Hanley said. "Right now we're trying to work everyone into the mix to see what works well for us."
Sophomore midfielder Shannon McCabe seemed to understand what the new players were going through firsthand, and had plenty of advice for them.
"Team chemistry is one thing we have always taken great pride in at KU and I think this team has that this year, which will be a huge part of our success," junior midfielder lessica Bush said.
While the team continues to work on valuable skills needed for soccer like speed and determination, there is one the players feel they have down.
"They just have to know that they are an integral part of the team and
MARK FRANCIS Coach
team would have to show up to every game and perform at a high level.
The players and their coach are on the same page and completely focused on succeeding in the coming months, leading to the ultimate
goal of a tournament victory.
This season is the last for a group of seniors who won the Big 12 regular season title in their freshman year. Francis said the seniors have a lot of motivation to win in their final season.
"This year every game is a big game," Bush said. "Every game puts us that much closer to the NCAA Tournament."
-Edited by Luke Morris
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Expires 8-31-07
Kansas Soccer 2007 Schedule
Kansas soccer players are competing for starting positions on their team. Coach Mark Francis and a few players answered questions at Monday's Fall Media Day.
08/31/07 at Hawaii Honolulu, Hawai
12 a.m.
09/01/07 vs. Auburn Honolulu, Hawaii
12 a.m.
09/06/07 vs. BYU Lawrence, Kan.
5 p.m.
09/09/07 vs. SMU Lawrence, Kan.
1 p.m.
09/14/07 at Portland Portland, Ore.
9 p.m.
09/16/07 vs. Washington Portland, Ore.
12:30 p.m.
09/18/07 vs. Missouri State Lawrence, Kan.
5 p.m.
09/21/07 vs. Illinois Lawrence, Kan.
5 p.m.
09/23/07 vs. Cal Lawrence, Kan.
1 p.m.
09/28/07 at Baylor Waco, Texas
7 p.m.
09/30/07 at Texas A&M College Station, Texas
1:30 p.m.
10/05/07 at Drake University Des Moines, Iowa
7 p.m.
10/07/07 at Texas Tech Lubbock, Texas
1 p.m.
10/12/07 vs. Oklahoma State Lawrence, Kan.
4 p.m.
10/14/07 vs. Oklahoma Lawrence, Kan.
1 p.m.
10/19/07 at Colorado Boulder, Colo.
4 p.m.
10/21/07 at Texas Austin, Texas
1 p.m.
10/26/07 vs. Nebraska Lawrence, Kan.
3 p.m.
10/28/07 vs. Iowa State Lawrence, Kan.
1 p.m.
11/02/07 vs. Missouri Lawrence, Kan.
3 p.m.
*All times are central standard time.
MLS
Beckham proves to be Galaxy's star
BY ANDREW WIEBE
KANSAN COLUMNIST
AWIEBE@KANSAN.COM
Sports fans still resisting the media circus of David Beckham's arrival missed
Major League Soccer's ideal introduction of the English megastar.
Those who tuned in to Fox Soccer Channel on Saturday night saw a crowd of 66 thousand at Giants Stadium and were treated to the MLS game of the year. Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy fell 5-4 to the New York Red Bulls.
Not only was Beckham involved in three of the Galaxy's goals, he was clearly invested in the game and was at the center of controversy when he took exception to a Dave van den Berg tackle in the first half. The shoving match that followed should only endear him to American sports fans who will value his passion for the game as well as his skill.
Although Beckham's ankle problems temporarily derailed MLS's original plans for his arrival, his performance thus far when healthy has been encouraging. For someone still obviously bothered by his ankle, Beckham seems to be the difference between a team that was destined to miss the playoffs and one with a chance to turn its season around.
Much of the popular media have judged Beckham to be the best player on the field in the appearances he has made, and to a point, I agree.
His passing repertoire brings a new element to the Galaxy attack that no team in the league can possibly replicate. He showed an uncanny ability to free up teammates down the wings into open space, and the undeniable quality of his free kicks will be the source of instant offense for a team that has so far struggled to score.
On one notable goal he simply stood and watched as Micah Richards drove toward goal, resulting in a Red Bull's goal.
From a critic's point of view, Beckham has never been the prototypical ball winner, and that has been obvious in each of his four appearances. He has been generally unwilling to exert too much energy defending, though that can be attributed to his balky ankle.
Beckham is obviously not completely healthy and for much of the second half, it seemed he was content to play deep, avoid contact, and feed long passes to teammates. I think we will see a completely different Beckham after he recovers from injury.
While he will never be a player who beats players off the dribble, once healthy he will still make runs into dangerous space closer to goal and contribute more around the opponent's goal.
Reports from England suggest he will sit out most, if not all, of England's friendly with Germany this week at the new Wimbley in England, and a rested Beckham will undoubtedly continue to improve the Galaxy's play and coverage of Major League Soccer in general.
Beckham has shown he has the ability to be the class of the MLS and the enormous turnout in New York is a positive sign for league growth. This growth must be sustained to continue improving the league, and to do this Beckham must remain healthy. It remains to be seen how his ankle, and the Galaxy for that matter, will hold up for the remainder of the MLS season, but signs are positive that soccer has a foothold in American culture.
— Edited by Amelia Freidline
beckham highlights
David Beckham for the Los Angeles Galaxy
Game one: Beckham came on as a substitute in a friendly against Chelsea, an English Premier League powerhouse, but the Galaxy lost 1-0 because of John Terry's second half goal.
Game two: Beckham officially debuted for Major League Soccer, coming on as a substitute against D.C. United in a nationally televised match. Again, the Galaxy lost 1-0.
Game three: Beckham makes his first start, but this
time in the semi-finals of the SuperLiga, a competition pitting four MLS teams against four of Mexico's best clubs. He scored a goal off a bending free kick into the side netting, and assisted Landon Donovan.
Game four: Beckham had his coming out party against the New York Red Bulls in front of more than 66 thousand people at Giants Stadium. Beckham had two assists off set pieces, as well as a spot-on corner kick that led to another goal. But the Galaxy lost 5-4. Juan Pablo Angel and 17-year-old phenom Jozy Altidore each scored twice for New York.
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