Kansas University graduate student Peter Dillett came to KU because of its geology program.

The Milwaukee native knew he had picked the right place, though, when he found out the KU men’s club soccer team fielded a pretty good squad.

“Soccer was a definite bonus,” said the former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh standout, who started playing for the Jayhawks two years ago. “It enables me to be much more productive in my studies, because it serves as a release.”

The sport probably will serve as a little more than exercise today, when the Jayhawks open play in the National Collegiate Soccer Assn.’s national tournament in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Kansas (15-2-4) will open play against Mississippi State (10-4-2) at noon.

“It’s definitely exciting,” junior midfielder Andy Nussbaum said. “This is what we’ve been building for all season, and hopefully it will be our highlight.”

Coach Matt McCune’s 22-man squad has been this far before, though.

A young Jayhawk team last year learned a very valuable lesson at nationals.

“We learned to never let your guard down,” said Nussbaum, who hails from Wichita and played at Bethel College before transferring to Kansas.

While KU eventually lost to national champion Weber State in its opening group play, it was a 1-all tie against a Virginia team that came back to even the score in the final 10 seconds that kept Kansas from advancing.

“The biggest thing is the competition. You can’t let up for a single minute,” McCune said of the NCSA, which has more registered men’s teams than the NCAA, but lacks the truly top-notch players.

“It’s really just as competitive. I would not say skill-wise, but as far as competition level across the board, and an intensity to win — the NCSA is just as great, if not better.”

The Jayhawks — who have outscored opponents 58-17 this season and reached nationals by winning the Region IV North tourney — will take on California-Berkeley (9-2-1) at 6 tonight.

A win in either of today’s games likely would move the Jayhawks into the Sweet 16.

Dillett said that would be a mark worth remembering.

“They were right there last year, and now we’re right there again this year,” he said. “Like most teams, we need to catch a few breaks, but I think we have a great chance.”