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Freshman goalkeeper Julie Hanley dives to block a shot during practice Thursday at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Stepping out of a record-setting 2004 season, the Kansas soccer team was arguably the most successful Jayhawk team last year.
Led by three All-Americans, two of which return this season, Kansas shared the Big 12 Regular Season Title with Texas A&M and ended their season with an 18-5-0 record.
Senior forward Caroline Smith and junior defender Holly Gault anchor the 2005 squad as the two returning All-Americans. The Jayhawks lost goalkeeper Meghan Miller to graduation last spring, but picked her up as a volunteer assistant coach for 2005.
This could be the dreaded rebuilding year for the Jayhawks, losing seven players from 2004, all of whom were starters.
Or not.
"Anytime you're the champion, you have a bigger target on your back," Coach Mark Francis said. "But I don't feel that there is any more pressure because we are a different team."
Unlike many rebuilding teams, Kansas brings a loaded bench to compete.
A different team with a few familiar faces. This year's team returns only four starters from the Big 12 Championship squad, in contrast to the 10 players who returned in 2004.
Smith is projected to carry a heavy load offensively. Kansas' all-time leading scorer will combine with a senior-heavy group of forwards to make up for losing nearly half of the Jayhawks' offensive production of last season.
"I think most of the pressure for me comes by being
a leader and making sure everybody sticks together as a team," Smith said. "As far as production goes, other people will step up. Nicole Braman had a great spring and we've got great freshmen coming in. Jessica Smith is coming back and she's a big score for us, too."
Gault, who was named first team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America last season, will have her work cut out for her in her first season without Miller behind her in goal.
Jessica Smith will be another major offensive supplier along with serving as captain for the young Jayhawk club.
As a whole, the Kansas defense allowed only 13 goals last season. A feat seemingly easy when compared against Miller's Big 12 leading .57 goals against average and .881
save percentage.
Also being looked upon for leadership is junior midfielder Nicole Cauzillo. Named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer team in 2004, Cauzillo also represented Kansas at the 2005 NCAA Leadership Conference earlier this year.
Six freshmen join the mix this fall, including Kansas Gatorade player of the year Missy Geha and high school All-Americans Julie Hanley, goalkeeper, and Jessica Bush, midfielder.forward.
"We've got some very good freshmen that we think will all be able to compete. And we have some returning players that did very well last year." Francis said. "We're going to have a lot of spots open for grabs so it will really be up to individual people to step up and see who wants it worse."
younger team, Francis said he believed in his club and that there was little reason not to expect another successful season to follow up their best in history.
Despite competing with a
"We have to maintain that standard," Francis said. "Last year was a good year, obviously, but we have to maintain that standard and keep getting better from there."
That standard will be tested from day one of their 2005 schedule, beginning with the Aug. 20 exhibition game against Missouri Valley Conference Champion, Drake. Francis said his team was up for the challenge.
"We won't get exposed against teams that aren't very good. It will let us know pretty quick what we need to get better at," Francis said.
VOLLEYBALL KU volleyball expects successful season
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Perhaps never in school history has a Kansas volleyball season arrived with such anticipation and promise.
Coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, the Jayhawks have their sights set on big things in 2005. The Jayhawks return five starters from last season's 19-12 squad. They are led by senior middle blocker Josi Lima, who was named preseason all-Big 12 after earning all-league honors in her first three seasons.
Lima said she and her teammates were working hard in practice, which began last Monday, to ensure another successful season.
Along with Lima, the Jayhawks return seniors Paula Caten and Andi Rozum.
Bechard said more consistent play throughout the season would help them achieve their goal.
Sophomore opposite hitter/setter Emily Brown brings something extra to the Jayhawks this fall. She was one of only 14 women invited to train with the United States Junior National team this past summer.
Going deeper into the NCAA Tournament is the goal this season.
"Everybody is giving a great effort," Lima said. "I think the key for us now is to keep working on technical things that we need to adjust."
"Last year we started pretty fast and then had a little slide in the middle of the year," Bechard said. "Hopefully we can be steadier."
Replacing graduated libero Jill Dorsey will be a near-impossible task, but Juniors Jamie Mathewson and Dani Wittman will compete for the starting spot.
Kansan file photo
Josi Lima, then junior, spikes the ball. This season opens August 20 at 7 p.m. at the Horesji Family Athletics Center.
In addition, incoming freshman Liz Ingram will battle to fill the hole left by the departure of the school's all-time dies leader.
Bechard said the freshman class could have an immediate impact. Setter Katie Martincich was named Kansas' Gatorade Player of the Year after her senior season at Bishop Miege High School, in Shawnee. Blocker Savannah Noyes was an all-state performer in Nebraska.
Bechard said the value these newcomers would add to practice would be just as valuable as their performance in matches
"If you can have a side B that is extremely competitive every day against your side A, it's going to make things much better for you when it comes time to compete against someone else."
Kansas will scrimmage against an alumni team on Aug. 20. They officially kick off the season with the State Farm Jayhawk Classic, which begins Aug. 26 against Alabama.
Edited by Jayme Wiley