Jayhawks Open Season in Honolulu
Aug. 28, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Jayhawks Open Season in Honolulu
The University of Kansas soccer team will travel to Honolulu, Hawai’i to participate in the Ohana Hotels & Resorts No Ka Oi Tournament this weekend. The 26th-ranked Jayhawks will face the host Hawai’i on Friday at 12 a.m. (CST) and then Auburn on Saturday at 12 a.m. (CST). Both matches will be played at Waipio Peninsula Stadium.
About the Jayhawks
Kansas enters the opening weekend of the 2007 season ranked 26th in the Soccer Buzz preseason poll and are also receiving votes in the Soccer Times national poll. The Jayhawks return 18 letterwinners and nine starters from last year’s squad, which finished 11-7-1 overall and 6-4 in the Big 12. Last season, junior Jessica Bush led the team with eight goals and two assists, while junior Julie Hanley posted an 0.98 goals against average and shut out seven opponents. KU welcomes 11 new players to the 2007 roster, which Soccer Buzz ranked as the fifth-best class in the Central Region and the third-best in the Big 12.
Scouting the Rainbow Wahine
Hawai’i is coming off an 8-11-2 campaign in 2006 that saw the Rainbow Wahine place sixth in the Western Athletic Conference. UH won the WAC regular-season title in 2005. The Wahine return 17 letterwinners and 10 starters from last year’s squad, and added five freshmen.
Junior Taryn Fukuroku was the Rainbow Wahine’s top scorer last season, netting eight goals and collecting six assists, while sophomore Kelli-Anne Chang tallied eight goals and two assists. In goal, junior keeper Kori Lu posted a 1.25 goals against average and a .684 save percentage in 19 starts last season.
Head coach Pinsoom Tenzing is in his 14th season at UH and has an overall mark of 109-120-20. This will be Kansas’ first meeting with Hawai’i on the soccer pitch, and first match against a WAC school.
Scouting the Tigers
Auburn won the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference last season, finishing with an 11-6-3 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Tigers return 17 letterwinners and seven starters from last year’s squad, which fell to Cal in the first round of the national tourney in 2006.
Sophomore Caitlyn King was the Tigers’ top scorer a year ago, tallying five goals and five assists. Freshman All-SEC midfielder Gabi Rivera also returns to the AU lineup after scoring three goals and an assist. Junior goalkeeper Allison Whitworth started all 22 matches and posted a 1.09 goals against average.
Head coach Karen Hoppa begins her ninth season at Auburn and has a record of 93-59-12 at AU, and an overall record of 157-103-21 in 14 years of coaching at the NCAA Division I level. Kansas won the only previous meeting between the schools, earning a 1-0 double-overtime triumph in Auburn, Ala. on Sept. 19, 2004. KU is 10-4-1 all-time against the SEC.
An Explanation
Kansas’ first two matches of the 2007 season will be played in Honolulu, Hawaii. Due to the time difference, Friday’s match will begin at 12 a.m. CST, while Saturday’s kick off will also be at 12 a.m. CST.
Looking Ahead
Following a road trip to Hawaii to open the year, the Kansas soccer team will return to the Jayhawk Soccer Complex to open its home schedule on Thursday, Sept. 6 with Brigham Young at 5 p.m. The BYU match is one of 10 home contests on KU’s 2007 ledger. The Jayhawks will also host SMU on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.
Season Tickets On Sale
Kansas Soccer season tickets are on sale now. Season tickets are $40, while University of Kansas faculty and staff tickets are $32. To purchase your season tickets, call the KU Ticket Office at 800-34-HAWKS or log on to kuathletics.com.
