When Kansas University’s soccer team lost to lowly Texas Tech five weeks ago, some of the Jayhawks identified that as the game that would keep them out of the NCAA Tournament.
Since then, however, No. 21 Kansas (14-4-1 overall, 5-3-1 Big 12 Conference) has gone 5-2-1, earned its first win over a Top-25 team, returned to the national rankings and taken its play to a new level.
“I can honestly say since (the Tech loss) I don’t think we’ve had a game where we haven’t showed up ready to play, which is a big plus,” KU coach Mark Francis said. “Maybe it gave us a little kick in the butt.”
In fact, it seems the loss to the Red Raiders might be sparking KU’s push for an NCAA Tournament berth. A win in today’s 3 p.m. game against Oklahoma State (11-3-2, 3-3-2) at SuperTarget Field should seal the deal.
“I think if we win Friday, I’d be very surprised if we didn’t get in,” Francis said.
Oklahoma State is led by forwards Jolene Scheitzer and Adriane Radtke, who have 12 goals apiece, but the Cowgirls have struggled offensively lately. They’ve scored just seven goals in their last seven games and have gone 1-3-3 during that span. Kansas has allowed just five goals in its last seven games.
KU seniors Maggie Mason, Sarah Gonzalez, Carmel Kaplinger and Lacey Woolf will play their final home match today, but Mason said Senior Day festivities had been an afterthought with postseason possibilities on the horizon.
“Senior Day hasn’t really come up,” Mason said. “We’re seniors, and we want to do as well as possible, so if that means winning a game, placing well and going to the NCAA, then that’s exactly why we came here.”
The Big 12 tournament is next week in San Antonio, and seedings will be finalized today. The Jayhawks are fifth in the Big 12. A win today could jump them as high as third place if No. 22 Nebraska loses to No. 6 Colorado. Kansas’ best finish ever is fourth place in 2001, the same year it made its only NCAA Tournament appearance.
