Texas Tech and Baylor To Visit No. 12 Soccer
Sept. 30, 2004
LAWRENCE, Kan. – For the second straight weekend, No. 12 Kansas soccer will host a pair of Big 12 conference opponents at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. Texas Tech will be in town to square off against the Jayhawks on Friday at 4 p.m., while on Sunday Baylor takes on Kansas at 1 p.m.
Kansas enters with weekend with a 9-2-0 overall mark and a 1-1 record in Big 12 play. The Jayhawks have been led this season by goalkeeper Meghan Miller, who leads the Big 12 in goals against average (0.36), save percentage (.922) and shutouts (7). Offensively, four players, Rachel Gilfillan, Caroline Smith, Nicole Cauzillo and Holly Gault, have each scored at least one goal this season. For the year, the Jayhawks have outscored their opponents by a 17-4 mark.
KU head coach Mark Francis shoots for his 100th career win this weekend, as he enters the Texas Tech match with a career coaching mark of 99-66-7 over nine years. Francis already owns the top spot on KU’s all-time coaching wins list with 66 wins at the head of the Jayhawk soccer program.
Texas Tech comes to Lawrence after beginning conference play winless last weekend. The Red Raiders held a 2-0 lead on No. 22 Texas last Friday night, but Tech was unable to maintain the lead, as it fell to the Longhorns in double overtime.
Offensively, the Red Raiders are led by freshman Priscilla Esquivel, who has posted seven goals and 14 points this season. Fellow freshman Jenifer Thomas has also enjoyed success this season, tallying two goals and four assists for eight points.
Lone senior Allison Seifert leads a young defense which has yielded 25 goals against this season, while a trio of Red Raiders have seen time in goal in 2004. Juniors Megan Knauss and Beth Lippert and freshman Tina Rincon have each started at least three games in the net for Tech. Knauss has put up slightly better numbers, leading the team with a 1.60 goals against average and a .778 save percentage.
Baylor is coming off a big victory, as it defeated No. 22 Texas in Waco last Sunday. The win lifted the Lady Bears’ overall record to 4-4-1 and their Big 12 mark to 1-1, after losing their conference opener to Texas A&M, 1-0.
The Lady Bears are coached by George Van Linder, who is in his second season at Baylor. Van Linder has complied an 11-13-3 mark in his two seasons in Waco.
On the field, Baylor boosts four players who have scored at least two goals this season. Sophomore Anna Schuch, a transfer from St. Louis, leads the team in points (12), goals (4) and assists (4).
In goal, freshman Ashley Holder has seen a majority of the action. In 795:18 minutes of work, she had collected a 1.81 goals against average, a .758 save percentage and one shutout.
Gametracker and complete coverage following the matches will be available on the official site of Kansas athletics, www.kuathletics.com.
