Caroline Smith, KU's ballyhooed senior forward, holds a slew of KU career scoring records.

If Big 12 Conference soccer were a bulls-eye, then Kansas University would be in the middle circle. The Jayhawks are defending league champs.

“We’re happy to be in this position, because that means we’re doing the things needed to get to the top,” coach Mark Francis said. “We weren’t able to sneak up on anybody last season, and I’m sure everyone will be again gunning for us.”

Not only did the 2004 Jayhawks tie the ’03 team for the most wins in school history with its 18-5 record, Kansas claimed its first Big 12 crown and moved into the Top 10 of the national polls, where the Jayhawks were ranked nine out of 11 weeks during the season.

“Obviously, we had a very, very successful season last year,” said Francis, whose team fell, 2-1 in overtime, to Nebraska in the second round of the NCAA tournament. “A great deal of our success was because of the leadership and guidance of our seven seniors.”

Replacing graduated Monica Brothers, Amy Geha, Rachel Gilfillan, Stacy Leeper, Meghan Miller, Lauren Williams and Gabby Quiggle won’t be easy. That group won 60 games and qualified for three NCAA tournaments during their careers.

“It’s going to be quite the challenge to replace them,” Francis said. “They were a very dedicated group and one of the biggest reasons this program is where it is today.

“But we have seven newcomers coming in who are talented and will make an impact. And, hopefully, the returnees watched what last year’s seniors did on and off the field and will follow in their footsteps.”

KU figures to suffer most on defense with the departure of Miller, a fixture in goal for four years. The Jayhawks surrendered only 13 goals all of last season and finished ninth in the country with a team goals-against average of 0.55.

Miller was a second-team All-American and is KU’s all-time leader in shutouts, goals against average, games started and games played. She led the Big 12 in goals against average (0.57) and save percentage (.881) and was second in shutouts with 12 last season.

“There’s no doubt about we’re going to miss Meghan’s presence back there,” Francis said. “She was a big-time player for us for four years.”

Junior defender Holly Gault, who was selected to the NSCAA/adidas All-America First Team, should help the transition in the backfield.

On offense, Francis has his most potent scorer back in senior forward Caroline Smith.

Smith, who holds most of KU’s career scoring records, led the Jayhawks for the third consecutive season with 11 goals and 10 assists and earned her second-straight NSCAA/adidas All-America third-team honor.

“I don’t think Caroline feels any extra pressure,” Francis said. “Pretty much after what she did her first year, teams have tried to devise a way to stop her each and every match. I think Caroline is poised to go out there and put together a fine senior season.”

As far as the pressure of being defending league champs, Francis said he would take that task any day.

“It’s not going to be easy, but it’s going to be a fun challenge,” said Francis, who will begin his seventh season on Mount Oread this fall.