Jayhawks invade national rankings entering final week of regular season

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After wrapping up an unbeaten road record in the highest-ranked conference in the NCAA, the Kansas soccer team launched itself listed in the top-25 in a number of national polls Tuesday. Most notably, the Jayhawks checked in at No. 25 in the NSCAA Coaches’ poll, the first time Kansas has been on the national coaches’ list since 2014.
 
Entering the final week of the regular season, Kansas (9-4-4, 4-1-2 Big 12) sits second in the Big 12, a league that boasts the No. 1 RPI conference ranking in the nation. The Jayhawks are coming off an undefeated weekend on the road, claiming a draw at now-No. 24 Oklahoma Friday, and topping then-25th ranked Baylor, 3-1, in Waco Sunday.
 
Other than its No. 25 billing in the Coaches’ poll, Kansas also saw itself move up the national charts in other top-25 lists. TopDrawerSoccer.com listed the Jayhawks at No. 22 this week, while Soccer America tabbed KU at No. 25.
 
The Jayhawks’ only two losses over the last five weekends came at the hands of West Virginia, now ranked No. 1 in the NSCAA poll, and Southern California, which checked in at No. 4 in the national rankings this week.
 
Kansas will conclude the regular season this Friday, Oct. 28 when the Jayhawks host Iowa State at Rock Chalk Park. A KU win would secure the Jayhawks a second-place finish in the league standings, the program’s highest conference finish since 2004. It would also give KU 10 wins for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Kickoff with the Cyclones is slated for 7 p.m.
  
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