MATCH PREVIEW: vs. DePaul

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The No. 11 Jayhawks (4-0-0) hit the road for the first time of the 2019 season when they take part in the Boilermaker Challenge Cup in West Lafayette, Indiana. KU will take on DePaul in game one of the Challenge on Friday, Sept. 6. The match, set for 3 p.m. (CT) at Purdue’s Folk Field, will be the first meeting between the two schools.

MATCH INFORMATION

Date/Time: Sept. 6 at 3 p.m. (CT)
Opponent DePaul
Location Folk Field (West Lafayette, Ind.)
Watch N/A
Listen Jayhawk Radio Network

QUICK KICKS

  • Kansas is coming off a 1-0 victory over Florida Atlantic on Sept. 1 in Lawrence. Katie McClure scored the game’s lone goal in the 13th minute, while the KU defense locked down the Owls for the rest of the contest.
  • 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.
    Statistically, the Jayhawks rank in the top-20 nationally in assists per game (12th, 3.0), goals per game (16th, 3.3) and points per game (15th, 9.5) and goals-against average (12th, 0.25).
  • KU is 22-16-8 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.
  • The Jayhawks’ 13 goals through their first four matches are the most by a KU team in the first four contests of a season.
  • McClure has scored the game-winning goal in each of the Jayhawks’ first four matches. The feat marks a new program record for consecutive matches with a game-winner.
  • Kansas are looking to start a season 5-0 for the fifth time in program history and the first time since 2014. The record for consecutive wins to start a season is eight and was achieved in 2014.
  • Ten different Jayhawks tallied at least a goal or an assist in KU’s first four matches of 2019.


STORYLINES

  • ROAD WARRIORS
    With the Jayhawks set for 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 46 regular-season games away from home since the start of the 2014 season, amassing a record of 22-16-8, 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 four 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 0.25 this season, which encompasses three shutouts in its first four outings. The Jayhawks are allowing just 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 are currently in the midst of a 171-minute opponent scoreless stretch. KU has tallied four opponent scoreless streaks of 300 minutes or more in the last five seasons.
  • TALKIN’ TOP-25
    Following the impressive start to the season, the voters for several national polls showed their appreciation for KU’s work thus far in 2019, moving them from unranked to No. 11 in the NCAA in after just two weeks of action.The Jayhawks lept seven spots in the United Soccer Coaches’ top-25 this week, the program’s highest ranking in the poll in five seasons. KU’s highest all-time ranking in that poll (formerly the NSCAA Coaches’ poll) was No. 6 during the 2004 season. The Jayhawks also peaked inside the top-10 during their 2014 campaign, climbing as high as No. 9. Last season, Kansas found itself among the top-25 during five weeks, topping out at 16 on Sept. 3. With a spot secured in the rankings the last two weeks, Kansas has made five appearances in six seasons in the Coaches’ poll.