MATCH PREVIEW: at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 11 Jayhawks look to bounce back following their first loss of the season when they take on Purdue in the final match of the Boilermaker Challenge Cup Sunday. Kickoff from Folk Field is set for 1 p.m. (CT) on Big Ten Network Plus.

MATCH INFORMATION

Date/Time: Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. (CT)
Opponent Purdue (4-1-0)
Location Folk Field (West Lafayette, Ind.)
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QUICK KICKS

  • Kansas is coming off its first loss of the young season, a 1-0 result to the DePaul Blue Demons on Sept. 6 in the first match of the Boilermaker Challenge. KU outshot the Blue Demons 20-5 but was shutout for the first time in 2019.
  • Since 2015, the Jayhawks are 12-10-6 in matches following a loss, which includes a 3-2-0 mark last season.
  • The Jayhawks are looking to become the ninth Kansas squad to earn five victories through the opening six games of the season Sunday. It would mark the fourth time in the last six season KU has claimed five or more wins through its opening six matches.
  • KU’s defense has conceded just two goals through its first five matches of 2019 and became just the third Jayhawk team to allow two or fewer goals through its first five matches of the season. Last season’s KU squad also let two goals in through its first five contests, while the 2004 team didn’t concede a goal until its sixth match of the year.
  • Katie McClure is out to a quick start to her senior campaign. Her six goals and 14 points lead the Big 12 and rank her in the top-five of the NCAA, while her four game-winning goals lead the nation.
  • McClure is tops among active players in the Big 12 in career goals (28), goals per game (0.42), game-winning goals and career points (65).
  • Kansas jumped seven spots to No. 11 in the latest Unites Soccer Coaches’ top-25 poll. It marked the Jayhawks’ highest NCAA ranking since 2014.
  • KU is 22-17-8 over the last five seasons in matches played away from Rock Chalk Park. The Jayhawks have posted a winning percentage of .500 or better every year in that span.
  • McClure has scored the game-winning goal in each of the Jayhawks’ four wins this season. The feat marked a new program record for consecutive matches with a game-winner.


STORYLINES

  • HOT START HAWKS
    The impressive early performance to the 2019 campaign puts this year’s Jayhawk squad among just a handful of Kansas teams that have gotten their seasons off to a fast start. This bunch will look to join eight other KU teams that were able to tally five or more victories in the first six games the season. This number includes three teams in the last five years. The Jayhawks’ early success bodes well for the bunch, as six of those past eight KU teams went on to make the NCAA Tournament and posted 11 or more victories. In three of those seasons, Kansas logged top-three finishes in the final Big 12 standings.
  • ROAD WARRIORS
    With the Jayhawks in the midst of their first road trip of the season this weekend, they will look to continue their trend of relatively strong performances in matches away from Rock Chalk Park in the recent years. Kansas can hang its hat on an impressive record in road games over the past five seasons. KU has played 47 regular-season games away from home since the start of the 2014 season, amassing a record of 22-17-8, which included a 3-3-2 record last year. KU has posted a .500 record or better in regular-season road or neutral matches every year since 2014.
  • LET’S GET DEFENSIVE
    In their first five matches of 2019, the Jayhawks have once again proved to be a stout defensive team, carrying over the trend from their last several seasons. Kansas currently boasts a goals-against average of 0.40 this season, which encompasses three shutouts in its first five outings. The Jayhawks are allowing less than two opponent shots on goal per match. KU has already put together an impressive shutout streak to start this season. Kansas went 189-straight minutes without conceding a goal to start the year, and just wrapped up a 217-minute opponent scoreless stretch. KU has tallied four opponent scoreless streaks of 300 minutes or more in the last five seasons.