If ignorance is bliss, then consider Kansas University’s soccer team one gleeful bunch.

When Kansas (12-7-2) takes on Denver University (19-2-2) at 6:30 tonight in the first round of the 64-team NCAA Tournament in Palo Alto, Calif., it will do so knowing virtually nothing about its opponent.

And that’s just fine with the KU players.

“I don’t know anything really about them,” senior midfielder Jessica Bush said. “I know that they’ve had a really successful season. I think it’s almost better not knowing anything about your opponent because you just go out and play.”

KU forward Shannon McCabe didn’t disagree.

“It’s kind of nice not to know anything about them because at the same time, maybe they don’t know very much about us,” McCabe said.

Unlike Big 12 Conference games, when the Jayhawks master team and player schemes like the back of their hand, KU comes into its matchup against the Pioneers with only bits and pieces of information.

Chiefly that Denver, despite not playing in a traditional power conference, is good.

Denver, after all, defeated Big 12 opponent Colorado, 1-0, on the road in Boulder – the same Colorado team that defeated Kansas, 2-0, in Lawrence.

“They have a schedule where we don’t really know many of the teams, but they did beat Colorado,” McCabe said. “We failed to do that, so obviously they have the ability to play well.”

While Kansas had to sweat out a tournament berth from the selection committee Monday evening, Denver wrapped up an automatic bid, capturing its third consecutive Sun Belt Conference championship by defeating Western Kentucky, 2-0, last week.

Two key components to Denver’s success can be found up top at forward and in back at goalkeeper.

Pioneers forward Taryn Hemmings should pose the biggest challenge for the Jayhawks’ defense. Hemmings, the Sun Belt player of the year, led her team with 16 goals and six assists this season.

KU coach Mark Francis, who this week purchased streaming online feeds of Denver’s games from earlier this season, came away impressed with what he saw.

“She’s the kind of kid that can do it on her own,” Francis said of Hemmings. “She gets a ball, she doesn’t necessarily need anybody else. She’s fast, and she’s good one on one.”

Offensively, Denver has scored 44 goals in 23 games, while Kansas tallied 43 in 21 games. Perhaps more unnerving for Kansas is what Denver brings to the field defensively.

The Pioneers have allowed only 15 goals all season, a paltry average of 0.63 goals per game. Compare that to the Jayhawks, who have given up twice as many goals (30) in two fewer games.

DU goalkeeper Mackenzie Snyder roamed the goalie box for all but 69 minutes this season and is largely responsible for those numbers, having posted 10 shutouts. More alarming, Snyder owns an even better goals-against average than the team – 0.48 goals per game.

“In the two games I watched, their goalkeeper was good,” Francis said. “Very quick off her line. In the Colorado game, she made several good saves. I just think that overall, they’re a good team.”

Offensively, Kansas counters with some firepower of its own. Three different players have scored at least eight goals for the Jayhawks this season.

That includes McCabe (eight goals, five assists), Big 12 Rookie of the Year Emily Cressy (eight goals, three assists) and All Big 12 First teamer Monica Dolinsky (nine goals, nine assists).

“It’s nice to know that we can rely on different people at certain times of the game,” McCabe said. “I think it’s also important that we’re kind of peaking at the right time with our goal scoring.”

¢Cressy honored: KU freshman Cressy has been honored by was named to the Topdrawersoccer.com All-Rookie Second Team, as one of the top freshmen in the country.

Cressy led all conference freshmen with eight goals and 19 points this season. She tallied a team-high four game-winning goals.