Kansas Soccer Downs Furman to Remain Perfect in 2004

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Goalkeeper Meghan Miller recorded her fifth consecutive shutout as Kansas soccer collected three first half goals to defeat Furman, 3-0, on Thursday in Greenville, S.C. The perfect 5-0 start is the best in school history.

In the first period, it was senior midfielder Amy Geha who got KU on the board with her first tally of the season. During the game’s 14th minute, Geha pounced a rebound off a Caroline Smith shot and found the back of the net for the early lead. Less than 10 minutes later, Smith got herself on the score sheet, taking a pass from midfielder Nicole Cauzillo and slipping a shot past Furman goalkeeper Andie Hinshaw. At the 25:38 mark, Cauzillo added a goal off a pass from Smith to stretch the Jayhawks lead to 3-0, and extended her goal scoring streak to three games.

Miller made one save in the contest, as the KU defense limited the Lady Paladins to only five shots in the match. Miller extended her school-record shutout streak to five games and increased her school-record for career shutouts with her 24th career whitewash. The Seattle, Wash., native has not allowed a goal in 450 minutes in net this season.

“We played pretty well tonight,” said head coach Mark Francis. “We came out a little bit slow in the beginning of the game and they were all over us, but we were able to score a goal in the first 15 minutes and it allowed us to settle down. For the entire 90 minutes, this was the best game we have played so far this season. We are definitely improving, which is a good sign.”

Kansas now faces its first ranked opponent of the season as it battles No. 7 Clemson on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Greenville, S.C., to wrap up the Select Kickoff Classic.