Friday, October 10, 2008
Oklahoma State has one focus: score and score often.
So it comes as no surprise to see the 13th-ranked Cowgirls (10-1-1, 1-1-1) pacing the Big 12 in an astounding six offensive categories by wide margins. They lead the conference in goals scored by 12, averaging 3.75 goals per contest.
Junior goalkeeper Julie Hanley clears the ball downfield during a game against Colorado. The Jayhawks face off against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma this weekend.
Tonight at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex in Stillwater, Okla., Kansas (8-4, 2-2) will meet Oklahoma State for the first time since Colin Carmichael’s team defeated Mark Francis and the Jayhawks 3-0 in the Big 12 Tournament a year ago.
The Jayhawks haven’t forgotten the game that ended their season, and they know exactly what kind of team they’ll be dealing with.
“They are just really attacking oriented, and they have a girl in the center of the park that just goes at us,” junior goalkeeper Julie Hanley said. “They are really organized and finish their chances well.”
HOMECOMING FOR MCCABE, SALAZAR
Junior forward Shannon McCabe and sophomore midfielder Sarah Salazar will be in familiar surroundings this weekend in Oklahoma. Both hail from the Tulsa area and said they expected family, friends and former teammates at this weekend’s games.
McCabe and Salazar both played with Oklahoma State players in high school and on their club teams. Salazar said beating the Cowgirls held more weight than other games for her.
“I’m nervous because this is the one team I really want to beat really bad,” she said.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Tonight’s late kickoff with Oklahoma State bodes well for Kansas considering its success this season on Friday nights. The Jayhawks are 5-1 in 2008 on Fridays and 2-0 playing beneath the lights.
Keeping that unbeaten night record won’t be an easy task. The Cowgirls are 6-0 at home this season, outscoring their opponents 27-3.
PENCIL THEM IN
Five Kansas players have started all 12 matches for coach Mark Francis this season.
Senior midfielder Jessica Bush, junior goalkeeper Julie Hanley, junior defender Estelle Johnson, junior midfielder Monica Dolinsky and sophomore defender Lauren Jackson have earned places in the top 11 since the season opener against Purdue.
Jackson leads the team with 1,016 minutes played.
LOOKING TOWARD THE POSTSEASON
In the most recent RPI rankings released by the NCAA, Kansas finds itself in 41st after four straight 1-1 weekends.
There are 40 NCAA tournament slots. Auburn had the highest RPI ranking (48th) of any at-large NCAA Tournament participant in 2007.
The daunting force in the middle of the park is Oklahoma State’s senior midfielder Yolanda Odenyo, a two-time All American and a key cog of the Swedish national team. The 2006 Big 12 Co-Player of the Year is already having her best offensive season with a career-high 10 goals in 12 games.
Supporting Odenyo is junior forward Kasey Langdon, who has accumulated even more jaw-dropping statistics this season for the Cowgirls. So far Langdon has racked up 25 points on seven goals and eleven assists, surpassing her previous high of 19 points set a year ago.
Hanley said Kansas had been focusing on staying organized during practice this week in preparation for the rematch. Despite Oklahoma State’s remarkable offensive numbers, scoring hasn’t come quite as easily in its three Big 12 contests.
The Cowgirls dispatched Texas Tech 5-1 in Stillwater, but followed that up with one goal per contest in a tie with Colorado and a loss to Texas A&M.
Francis said he expected a tight match because both teams played similar styles and Big 12 position was on the line. Both teams employ a 4-3-3 formation and rely on ball possession to generate offense.
Junior defender Estelle Johnson said that she expected a physical game, but that stopping Oklahoma State wouldn’t be too much of a transition from some of Kansas’ other opponents this season.
“We have already played teams like Florida that are strictly offensive teams, and we’ve done fine,” Johnson said. “I think as long as we stay compact and organized as a defensive line we will be fine.”
Kansas will also travel to Norman, Okla., on Sunday for a 1 p.m. game against Oklahoma (1-11, 0-3). The two games represent the last time the Jayhawks play away from home until the season finale at Missouri. With her team at 2-2 and trailing conference leaders Texas A&M, Hanley said, this weekend is critical for Kansas’ postseason aspirations.
The Jayhawks have gone 4-4 since beginning the season 4-0.
“We are definitely going into it looking for two wins,” Hanley said. “I don’t think we will be satisfied with anything else.”
— — Edited by Adam Mowder
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