Freshman goalie Kat Liebetrau is quiet on the field. Senior goalie Julie Hanley is loud.

Liebetrau is, according to senior defender Estelle Johnson, a “shot-stopper”, while Hanley is likely better with her feet.

Their games might be the most opposite on the field, and since Liebetrau is now the starter after Hanley started for three years, there are definitely some adjustments taking place.

Johnson said the back line is working with Liebetrau.

“She will definitely communicate when she has to,” Johnson said. “But I think one thing we’re working on with her is just getting her to be more outspoken.”

Liebetrau admitted she still needed some time to adjust to being more vocal.

“My defenders, they get on me, telling me when I’m really soft,” Liebetrau said. “I’ve been trying to be more vocal in practice”.

Both Liebetrau and Johnson said that communication will be key to the defense’s success in the Lady Vol Invite this weekend and the season to come. Kansas takes on Pepperdine at 4:30 p.m., Friday in Knoxville, Tenn. On Sunday, they match up with Arizona State at 11:30 a.m.

Senior midfielder Monica Dolinsky has already faced Pepperdine once in her career, a 3-1 loss in Lawrence. She says she likes how Pepperdine plays a similar style to Kansas’.

“They like to play in the back and try to build it,” Dolinsky said. “We don’t like balls over the top a lot.”

Coach Mark Francis had no recollection of the meeting between the teams in 2006, but did say that their coach was a good friend of his and that they were always a tough opponent.

Senior midfielder Sophia “Bo” Medina, who just completed a stint with the Mexican national team, leads the Waves. She is a two-time All-West Coast Conference selection.

She may not score a ton of goals, but she has a knack for putting balls in the back of the net when it matters most. Of her 10 career goals, six ended up being the winning goals, adding to that total in Pepperdine’s season-opener on Sunday.

So when it matters the most, it may come down to who can make the play in the clutch: the senior with national team experience, or the freshman with one career start.

But what Francis and Johnson like the most about Liebetrau is her ability to stop shots.

“She is just really good at getting her body in front of the ball,” Johnson said. “She’ll do what it takes.”

Johnson said that if Liebetrau can communicate better, it will help the team immensely.

“I personally can’t hear anything when I’m playing,” Johnson said. “I think she just needs to come out of her comfort zone a little bit.”

Game breakdown: Kansas (1-0-0) vs.Pepperdine (1-0-0) 5:30 p.m., Knoxville, Tenn.

Kansas All-time Record vs. Pepperdine: 0-2 (2005, 2006)

Scouting Report

PEPPERDINE

Coach: Tim Ward

Formation: 4-3-3

Outlook: Pepperdine lost six starters from last year’s squad, so they have a relatively young squad, but they are still looking to challenge for the West Coast Conference title this year. Last year, the Waves finished 3rd in the WCC with a 9-9-2 record. They are coming off an exciting overtime win over Marquette last Sunday.

Goalkeeper: Pepperdine has two underclassmen battling for the starting goalkeeper position, sophomore Lacey Heck and freshman Roxanne Barker. Barker has an impressive résumé and only allowed one goal starting against Marquette, but still lacks experience on the college level.

Defense: Three starters return from an impressive defense last year that boasted eight shutouts. They also have a deep bench to fill in the spot left by graduated defensive leader Kelsey Baker.

Midfield: The Waves only return senior Kelly Reilly from last year’s squad, but they added Michelle Spacciapolli, a transfer from Boston College, along with two younger players. Spacciapolli scored one of Pepperdine’s two goals against Marquette on Sunday.

Forward: Pepperdine features a strong goal scoring presence up front with senior Sophie Medina. Medina spent the summer with the Mexican National team and scored in the 98th minute to beat Marquette.

KANSAS

Coach: Mark Francis

Formation: 4-4-2

Outlook: The Jayhawks started with a solid win over Drake on Sunday with goals from a couple unlikely sources. Continued improvement and confidence from younger players like freshmen Whitney Berry and Kat Liebetrau will go a long way in complementing the experienced core of the team.

Goalkeeper: Liebetrau only had one save to make in her collegiate debut on Sunday, but it was a good start nonetheless. Francis has plenty of confidence in his keeper, who he calls a terrific shot-stopper.

Defense: Kansas’ defense is definitely its strong point this year. They return three starters from last year, seniors Estelle Johnson and Lauren Jackson and junior Geneva Magness, all of which played the full 90 minutes against Drake.

Midfield: Two freshmen join two seniors in the midfield. Whitney Berry looked impressive on Sunday, scoring in her college debut and racking up five shots. Senior Monica Dolinsky will play a more attacking role as the inexperienced starters gain confidence.

Forward: Emily Cressy and Shannon McCabe combined for 17 goals last year and are looking to continue that success in 2009.They were held scoreless against Drake, but McCabe earned an assist, and the duo will likely start putting shots in the net soon.