You can’t win if you can’t score, and no college soccer team in the country has been stingier at surrendering goals than Kansas University.

KU leads NCAA Division One with a minuscule goals-against average of 0.31. The Jayhawks have surrendered only five goals in 16 games. Senior Meghan Miller has been in the net for 11 shutouts.

“Meghan has done a great job,” Kansas coach Mark Francis said, “but our defensive players have been playing really well and making her job easier. But Meghan has had some big saves, too.”

The Jayhawks’ starting defenders are senior Stacy Leeper, sophomores Nikki Alvarez and Holly Gault and freshman Afton Sauer.

Now ranked sixth nationally, the Jayhawks will face perhaps their toughest test tonight when they tangle with No. 9 Texas A&M. Game time will be 7 p.m. at the Aggie Soccer Complex in College Station, Texas.

A&M (12-4-1 overall) leads the Big 12 Conference standings with a 7-1 record. Kansas (14-2) is a half-game behind at 6-1.

“We hold our destiny in our hands,” Francis said. “If they win the rest of their games, they’ll win the league. If we win the rest of our games, we’ll win the league.”

A&M’s lone league defeat was a 2-1 decision to Missouri last week. The Jayhawks’ only conference loss was to Nebraska by a 1-0 count. If the Aggies win tonight, all they would need is a victory Sunday at Iowa State to lock up the outright championship and the No. 1 seed in the Nov. 3-7 league tourney in San Antonio.

After tonight, Kansas will have two games remaining — Sunday at Texas and the home finale against Iowa State a week from today.

During a six-game win streak, the Jayhawks have outscored their opponents, 17-2. They haven’t lost since bowing to Nebraska on Sept. 24 at Jayhawk Soccer Complex. KU’s only other defeat was a 1-0 decision Sept. 14 at Illinois.

Junior Caroline Smith, who scored a school record 19 goals last season, leads the Jayhawks with seven goals and five assists for 19 points. Nicole Cauzillo, a transfer from West Virginia, has four goals and six assists for 14 points. Also in double-points is senior Rachel Gilfillan with six goals and one assist for 13 points. Gault and midfielder Amy Geha have eight points apiece.

At this stage of the season, Francis doesn’t think his players will be fazed by playing back-to-back road games this weekend.

“We’ve won as many games on the road as we have at home,” he said. “The kids have handled the hostile environments well. I think they’re used to it. I think it’s a challenge we’re looking forward to.”