SoccerBuzz Names Five KU Soccer Players All-Region

Jan. 6, 2005

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After a record-setting year on the field, postseason accolades continue to roll in for the University of Kansas soccer team as SoccerBuzz selected five KU student-athletes to the All-Central region team today. In addition to the five All-Region selections, Kansas head coach Mark Francis was named Central Region Coach of the Year.

Senior goalkeeper Meghan Miller, sophomore defender Holly Gault and junior forward Caroline Smith were each named first team members. Miller compiled the best season by a goalkeeper in KU soccer history, leading the Big 12 in goals against average (0.57), save percentage (.881) and finishing second in shutouts (11).

Gault, who became the first player from Kansas to be selected as a first team All-American, anchored a young Jayhawk defense which surrendered only 13 goals all season and finished ninth in the country with a team goals against average of 0.55.

Offensively, Smith paced the team for the third consecutive season. The Edina, Minn., native led the Jayhawks in goals (11), assists (10) and points (32). No other school in the region had more than one selection on the first team.

Senior midfielder Amy Geha earned second team honors after tying for fourth on the team with 13 points (four goals, five assists) during the 2004 campaign.

Representing Kansas on the Central Region All-Freshman team was Afton Sauer. Sauer a freshman from Highlands Ranch, Colo., started all 23 matches on defense for the Jayhawks during the season and was a big part of the team’s defensive success.

Francis guided the Jayhawks to a school record 18 wins in back-to-back seasons and to the program’s first Big 12 Championship this fall. The honor marks the third time Francis has received the award, as he was also honored as a SoccerBuzz Regional Coach of the Year in 1997 while at South Alabama and in 2001 after his third season at Kansas.