Despite the rain-soaked field, uniforms and soccer balls, Kansas hung on for a 2-1 victory against the Drake Bulldogs Saturday at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.

The exhibition game was a success, complete with a Jayhawk victory, tables of victorious athletes signing autographs after the game and plastic leis for all.

“Obviously it’s nice to win,” coach Mark Francis said. “The confidence is always good when you win.”

Kansas jumped on top early because of two Smith’s. Senior forward Jessica Smith shot and hit the goal post in the ninth minute. As the ball bounced away, senior forward Caroline Smith was there to knock it back in.

“I think I did all right. I think I can do better,” Caroline Smith said. “I’m a better player now than I was last year. I’ve done everything I’m supposed to, now it’s just a matter of me stepping on the field and playing.”

Kansas continued to send shots at Drake’s junior goalkeeper, Erin Jarvis, outshooting Drake 13-4. Even though they took three times as many shots, it wasn’t until the 43rd minute that Kansas scored again.

In a double-assisted effort, freshman forward Sara Rogers scored her first goal as a Jayhawk. Forwards Lacey Novak, junior, and Jenifer Thomas, sophomore, each received an assist.

Rogers and the rest of the freshmen were the consensus best group in the game. Francis and Caroline Smith both agreed they played the best against Drake. All of them got playing time and midfielders Jenny Murtaugh, Jessica Bush and Missy Geha all took the field as starters.

Murtaugh played all 90 minutes of the match.

“I thought, as a class, the freshmen were the best on the field,” Caroline Smith said.

Although all of Kansas’ scoring came in the first half, the team preferred the play in the second half.

“The second half was a little bit better,” Francis said. “We kept the ball a little bit better.”

Drake got on the board in the 75th minute of the match. A high shot soared over freshman goalkeeper Julie Hanley’s head. Hanley played the entire second half of the game while sophomore keeper Colleen Quinn spent the first half in goal.

“The speed of play is something I am not used to,” Hanley said. “It’s going to take time. I thought I did some things wrong, like I definitely mistimed the ball.”

Senior forward and defender Sara Foote put the ball past Hanley to score the only Bulldog goal of the afternoon.

Other than allowing the goal, the Kansas defense put on a show. The defense, led by junior defender Holly Gault, allowed Drake only four shots on goal.

However, neither Gault nor Francis were particularly pleased with the defensive execution.

“We did all right. We got caught out of position,” Gault said. “I have a lot to do. I definitely made some mistakes.”

Francis echoed that sentiment.

“Defensively, I think we’ve got some work to do,” Francis said. “We’re a little disorganized, especially in the midfield. That’s why we have exhibition games.”

The Jayhawks’ physical intensity also rose to the occasion Saturday, showing the Bulldogs just how fast and how physical life is in the Big 12 Conference.

Drake coach Corbin Stone disagreed with the referees’ foul calls and no-calls loudly and often.

“We were definitely a little quicker to the ball than they were. We were more physical and I think they were surprised at that” Francis said. “Corbin’s a good friend of mine, but he likes to whine a bit. He was justified, I think, in some of the things he was complaining about.”

The final score may not have been exactly what the Jayhawks were looking for, but they are excited to prove that this year’s team is not inferior to the last.

“We’re not going to be as far along at this point as we were last year,” Francis said. “They’re still learning. It just takes time. Fortunately we have four days left before we play Michigan.”

Kansas vs. Drake 8/20/05 Box Score

Pos ## Player Sh SOG G A Min

---------------------------------------------

GK 00 Quinn, Colleen...... - - - 45

2 Murtaugh, Jenny..... - - - - 90

3 Sauer, Afton........ - - - - 90

7 Bush, Jessica....... - - - - 62

8 Gault, Holly........ 1 1 - - 74

10 Smith, Jessica...... 2 1 - 1 62

11 Cauzillo, Nicole.... 3 2 - - 55

16 Geha, Missy......... - - - - 69

17 Alvarez, Nikki...... - - - - 83

21 Smith, Caroline..... 2 1 1 - 71

23 Braman, Nicole...... 2 - - - 38

---------- Substitutes ----------

1 Hanley, Julie....... - - - - 45

5 Thomas, Jenifer..... - - - 1 22

9 Archuleta, Kelsey... - - - - 7

12 Novak, Lacey........ - - - 1 10

15 Karfonta, Kimberly.. 3 2 - - 39

18 Rogers, Sara........ 2 1 1 - 25

Goalkeepers

## Player MIN GA Saves

---------------------------------------

00 Quinn, Colleen...... 45:00 0 1

1 Hanley, Julie....... 45:00 1 1

Source: www.kuathletics.com