Kansas University’s soccer team will play the first of two preseason exhibition matches against the Drake Bulldogs at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The match will take place at Rock Chalk Park.
The Kansas Jayhawks return 15 letter-winners and seven starters from the 2014 squad which went 15-6-0, finished third in the Big 12 and appeared in the program’s sixth NCAA Tournament last season.
Mark Francis is entering his 17th season as head coach in Lawrence and holds a 178-133-22 record at KU after picking up his 200th career coaching victory last season.
Kansas returns seven players from last year’s team who started at least 15 games. Included in the returning starters are three of the team’s top-four scorers.
Seniors Liana Salazar (13 goals, four assists) and Ashley Williams (seven goals, three assists) lead the way, while sophomore Lois Heuchan (three goals) is also back.
Kansas also returns an experienced midfield and back line with the return of juniors Tayler Estrada, Hanna Kallmaier, Jackie Georgoulis, Kaley Smith, Morgan Williams and sophomore Kayla Morrison.
KU’s second exhibition comes at 1 p.m. Sunday when the Jayhawks host North Dakota State.
