photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas midfielder Kate Langfelder tries to split three defenders against TCU during the Big 12 tournament final at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

Among all sorts of other distinctions the team has received — a Big 12 tournament title, an NCAA berth, a No. 16 national ranking — the Kansas soccer team has garnered plenty of awards attention in recent weeks.

Caroline Castans and Lexi Watts were first-team all-conference players, with Jillian Gregorski an all-freshman selection; Castans and fellow defender Olivia Page received national team of the week honors from TopDrawerSoccer; and Castans, Page, Watts and goalkeeper Sophie Dawe were named to the Big 12’s all-tournament team.

At least one notable contributor, though, hasn’t gotten her time in the sun.

“I think the single player on our team who doesn’t get enough recognition is Kate Langfelder,” head coach Nate Lie said.

As a freshman, Langfelder, a midfielder from Wyckoff, New Jersey, has started all 22 matches for the Jayhawks in their improbable run, including, of course, their eight straight wins entering the NCAA Tournament — which begins for KU Friday at 7 p.m. on the road at Saint Louis.

Langfelder’s 1,784 minutes are third on the team, just below the totals of Dawe (1,898) and Castans (1,804). She has five assists on the year, but her value goes beyond the stat sheet: Lie calls her a “skeleton key” for any tactical changes the KU coaching staff might need to make on the fly, as the player chiefly charged with executing those sorts of adjustments.

“I would have nominated Kate high on the ballot for any sort of recognition,” Lie said. “She’s not one of those players that usually gets it, because she’s like the coach’s dream that does all the dirty work and all the stuff in between that makes our engine go.”

Langfelder said she’s thankful for the role she’s played this year.

“I think whether doing film with the coaches or film with the team, they’ve been really helpful just helping me figure it out,” she said. “And I think from our first game to now, there’s just been a huge difference, not only with me but with the entire team, of just growth.”

Langfelder, who has represented Switzerland at the youth level (she has dual citizenship through her father, whose mother was born there), was originally signed to play for Lie at Xavier before following him to KU when he got the job last December.

Gregorski took a similar path, and between those two, Dawe and Lauren Wood, the Jayhawks trotted out five freshmen as starters in their Big 12 championship victory over TCU. Sophomores like Castans, Assa Kante, Page, Emily Tobin and Saige Wimes have multiple years left to play as well. With the exception of a select few veterans like defender Mackenzie Boeve and midfielder Makayla Merlo, KU has relied on players with remaining eligibility to make its run — like Langfelder.

“It makes me really excited to see what they’ll be like and she’ll be like as a senior and a junior when they keep going,” Boeve said.

In the meantime, Langfelder has played a key role in a season she describes as “literally awesome, like beyond my wildest dreams” — one that has a chance to become even greater if KU can keep its momentum going.

“I remember watching the tournament last year and being like ‘Wow, I want to be there,'” she said. “Or just the Big 12 tournament, like ‘Wow, I want to play in that championship.’ And then to be able to win it is just surreal and awesome. I’m so grateful.”

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas sophomore Saige Wimes (4) celebrates with teammate Kate Langfelder after scoring a goal against UCF on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Lawrence.

photo by: Kansas Athletics

Kansas midfielder Kate Langfelder aims for the ball during the exhibition against Arkansas on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark.