Friday, August 19, 2005
Not wasting any time, the Kansas soccer team opens its 2005 exhibition season two days after classes began.
Kansas will face Drake tomorrow at 1 pm, at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
The exhibition game will serve as Kansas’ first this fall. Kansas’ previous game advanced them to the second round of the NCAA tournament to end last year’s season.
Drake kicked off the fall at home with a 3-4 exhibition match loss to Cedar River Soccer Association U-15 Boys’ Club.
Kansas soccer coach Mark Francis said he was excited to get back on the field, but had no idea what to expect out of the Bulldogs.
“We have no idea how they play,” Coach Mark Francis said. “Typically, during the season we get scouting reports or get video. The first game of the season, you don’t have that advantage. You really just have to take care of what you’re doing and hope that it’s good enough.”
Led by 2004 Missouri Valley Co-Coach of the Year, Corbin Stone, the Bulldogs return six seniors, including senior forward and MVC player of the year Andrea Schmitz.
On Tuesday, pre-season polls were released, revealing Kansas at No. 23 in the National Soccer Coaches Association/adidas poll, after an 18-5 season in 2004. Soccer Buzz Magazine ranked Drake No. 13 in the Great Lakes Region.
For the second consecutive year the Bulldogs won the regular season Missouri Valley Conference Championship.
Kansas claimed its first conference championship last year, sharing with Texas A&M.;
On the Jayhawk side of the ball, expect to see senior forward Caroline Smith controlling the offense. The Kansas all-time leading scorer sits at an even 100 points, and looks to add to that total starting tomorrow.
Senior forward Jessica Smith will be leading the team as captain after scoring four goals last year and was named first team Academic All-Big 12.
Francis has said that a big part of repeating last year’s success depends on the team’s chemistry and how well his girls mesh together.
“That’s always been a strength for us, the last couple of years especially. That makes a big difference,” Francis said. “Especially when you get into tight games. If a team is close off the field, it shows on the field. It has really helped us. We’ve probably won some games in the past that we probably shouldn’t have won.”
Amongst the new faces to watch for tomorrow is freshman midfielder Missy Geha. Following her sister, Amy Geha, before her, Geha is nervous but ready to live up to her expectations.
“I’m excited but I am more nervous,” Geha said. “This is college level. D-I.”
With two-a-day practices ending Wednesday, the soccer girls are back in shape and sharpening skills that never seem to dull.
“I’m surprised with as many new people as we have, that the new guys are picking things up so quickly. The returning players have done a great job of helping the new guys understand what’s going on,” Francis said.
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