April 23, 2012

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Sophomore Caroline Kastor's goal during the 23^rd minute proved to be the game-winner as the Kansas soccer team defeated Missouri State 1-0 Sunday afternoon at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. With the win, the Jayhawks conclude their spring season with a 4-1-1 overall mark.

Kastor notched six goals in six games during the spring portion of KU soccer's schedule while the Jayhawks out-scored opponents 14-6. The output comes on the heels on one of the team's best offensive seasons in program history in which its 46 goals in 2011 were the third-best mark in KU soccer history.

"I thought we played pretty well," said 13th-year head coach Mark Francis. "We had a lot of possessions but didn't create as many chances on the goal as we could have. I thought our defensive pressure on the ball was also good. I think we had a productive spring and really liked our mentality. This was a good finish to the spring and I like where we are heading into next fal."

Looking ahead to 2012, Kansas will return all 11 starters from its 11-9-1 squad from a year ago, when the Jayhawks also returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008. Francis has added six talented newcomers for next season including a former Ohio State all-American, a German Youth National Team standout and the New Mexico state player of the year.