photo by: Andrew Rosenthal

Senior forward Grace Hagan races past midfielder Katy Bryne in a match against Pepperdine on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. The Kansas soccer team moved to 2-0 start to the season with a win over South Dakota State on Sunday.

Even before the Kansas women’s soccer team recorded shutouts against Pepperdine, South Dakota State and Oregon State to begin the season, head coach Mark Francis had nothing but high hopes for the Jayhawks when he addressed the media at KU fall sports media day on Aug. 16.

Whether it was impact players being back at full strength, a talented freshman class arriving or a few seniors wanting to go out in style, Francis said that the energy level around the program was great during the offseason and preseason.

“When you have a third of the team brand new — actually a little bit more than 30 percent brand new — one of the things is just creating an identity as a group. Like who are we as a team with so many new guys?” Francis said. “I think the returners — these two sitting next to me (Grace Hagan and Katie McClure) and all the returners — I think in the summer was when it really started because almost all of our freshmen were here all summer. So I think it gave them an idea of kind of what to expect, and I think the returners did a really good job of just instilling what our culture is on the new group.”

Hagan and McClure netted seven and six goals, respectively, in 2017 to pace the Jayhawks. McClure has stepped up her game in her junior campaign to guide the Jayhawks to a 3-0 start. The Wichita native scored the lone goal of the match in KU’s 1-0 win over Pepperdine on Aug. 17.

McClure then logged a goal and an assist in the the Jayhawks’ 3-0 routs of South Dakota State and Oregon State. The KU forward secured Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and TopDrawSoccer Player of the Week honors after the opening homestand.

Along with finding early individual success this season, McClure has enjoyed developing chemistry with one of Francis’ largest-ever freshman classes. The Jayhawks have 11 newcomers between freshman Sarah Peters, Maya Swaby-Wallerson, Kaela Hansen, Chais Wright, Sam Barnett, Italia Bradley, Emilie Gavillet, Avery Ripple, Grace Wiltgen, Bri Amos and Portland transfer Kaycie Young. Peters has recorded all three shutouts.

“Them being here not solely in weights, but also we practice every day, so having them out there, letting them know that making mistakes is fine when you get in the game, when you get on the field,” McClure said. “Try to ease them in when the coaches get involved especially is a big part for the freshmen.”

While Young is a newcomer for the Jayhawks, she is one of four seniors on Francis’ squad. Young hasn’t been a huge vocal presence, but Hagan said she hasn’t needed to make an early impact. The Portland transfer is the younger sister of KU assistant coach Bri Young.

“Kaycie is very, very quiet,” Hagan said. “They would say that Kaycie and Bri, or Coach Bri, are polar opposites, even though …”

Francis chimed in, “They’re related.”

The senior forward continued, “They’re genetic. But Kaycie is a big presence in the midfield for us. She definitely is a body. She’ll shove people around for you, and she’s really good technically, as well. She can play any ball on a dime probably.”

Hagan, McClure and Francis were all quick to attest that the added depth of Young and the freshman is more than welcomed after the injury-riddled season the Jayhawks had last year. With the frustration of last season’s injuries now behind them, McClure said that Miriam Melugin (knee), Anna Courtney (knee), Mandi Duggan (knee), Kailey Lane (leg) and Lauren Bershears (foot) have come back stronger and more knowledgeable about the game.

“I know multiple times I’ve had a couple of forwards, Mandi and Kailey, that came up to me and pointed out and proved a point to me that I didn’t even know,” McClure said. “So I think we had a lot of people injured that were in different positions that helped us like kind of see the game better.”

Next up for the Jayhawks is a 10 a.m. tilt this morning in Lincoln, Neb. against Oregon to round out the Husker Invitational.

KU Soccer Schedule

Aug. 17 — Kansas 1, Pepperdine 0

Aug. 19 — Kansas 3, South Dakota State 0

Aug. 24 — Kansas 3, Oregon State 0

Aug. 26 — vs. Oregon at Husker Invitational, 10 a.m.

Aug. 31 — vs. Utah, 7 p.m.

Sept. 2 — vs. Butler, 7 p.m.

Sept. 6 — at Cincinnati, 6 p.m.

Sept. 9 — at Pittsburgh, noon

Sept. 14 — vs. Saint Louis, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16 — at Texas A&M, 1 p.m.

Sept. 21 — vs. Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

Sept. 23 — vs. Oklahoma State, 1 p.m.

Sept. 29 — vs. Iowa State, 7 p.m.

Oct. 5 — at Kansas State, 7 p.m.

Oct. 12 — vs. TCU, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14 — vs. Texas Tech, 1 p.m.

Oct. 19 — at Texas, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21 — at Baylor, 2 p.m.

Oct. 25 — at West Virginia, 6 p.m.

Oct. 28 – Nov. 4 — Big 12 tournament at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Mo.