KU soccer wants revenge on Baylor

Plenty is at stake for Kansas University soccer when the Jayhawks open Big 12 Conference play today against Baylor.

Kansas isn’t too worried about maintaining its No. 19 national ranking, its first in the program’s nine years. Payback is the primary issue.

Game time will be 5 p.m. at SuperTarget Field.

Kansas lost to Baylor, 2-1, last year in Waco, Texas, in a game that likely kept the Jayhawks out of the NCAA Tournament and began the squad’s spiral to a sixth-place conference finish.

“They beat us last year,” KU coach Mark Francis said, “so we kind of owe them one.”

Now with an 8-1 record and that national ranking, Kansas expects to take care of business. That means finishing scoring opportunities, avoiding defensive lapses and maintaining poise if Baylor (5-3) takes as many hard shots as it did last year.

Kansas has avoided such lapses so far. It also has outscored its opponents 9-2 in its last four games, all against teams that were in the NCAA Tournament last year. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Meghan Miller has become the school’s career shutouts leader.

“This is a new chunk of the season,” Miller said. “Conference starts and it’s a totally different ballgame from here on in. When we step on the pitch it’s about how you play on that day.”

Baylor has a new coach in George Van Linder, as well as a legitimate scorer in Ginny Rosario-Tull (eight goals, two assists).

Kansas will hit the road Saturday, traveling to Lubbock, Texas, for a 1 p.m. Sunday match with Texas Tech.