KU soccer to open spring season in Lawrence Sunday

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas soccer will open its 2017 spring exhibition season Sunday when the Jayhawks take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers inside Rock Chalk Park. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m., with admission free to the public.

Saturday’s match will be the first of five exhibitions Kansas will take part in this spring. Following its match with the Gophers, KU will play host to the two-time champions of the National Women’s Soccer League, FC Kansas City, on Monday, April 10. The match with FCKC will begin at 7 p.m. inside Rock Chalk Park.
 
The following week, Kansas hits the road to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, April 1 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The following week KU will head to Iowa City, Iowa for an April 22 date with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

After the road trip, KU will return home a week later to close out the spring campaign with a visit from the UMKC Kangaroos on Saturday, April 29. Kickoff from Rock Chalk Park is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
Kansas is coming off a successful season which saw the Jayhawks finish 11-6-4 and second in the Big 12 with a 6-2-1 record in league play. KU advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008, where the Jayhawks eventually fell to North Carolina, 2-0.

The Jayhawks will have some big shoes to fill left by departing senior starters Tayler Estrada, Aurelie Gagnet, Jackie Georgoulis, Hanna Kallmaier and Morgan Williams. The five combined for over 300 starts, six goals and 20 assists during their respective careers. Kansas is expecting to see the return of six starters from last season, including All-Big 12 first teamer Grace Hagan.
 
For updates and scores from the Jayhawks’ spring outings, follow on Twitter at @KUWSoccer and log on to KUAthletics.com.
 
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