KU soccer advances to NCAA Tournament, gets opener at home

The Kansas soccer team, for the third time in five seasons, has earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

KU, which finished the regular season with an 11-5-3 record, will host St. Louis in the first round during a 7 p.m. match Friday at Rock Chalk Park. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.

The Jayhawks previously defeated St. Louis at home, 3-2, on Sept. 14.

“Obviously, we prepared this week like we were going to be playing. Now it’s just nice to know who our opponent is and what’s in front of us,” KU coach Mark Francis said. “Not having to be on the road this week is huge for us. It allows us to train and not worry about traveling.”

If KU wins, it would face a potential second-round matchup against top-seeded North Carolina, which opens at home against Howard.

The Jayhawks last made the NCAA Tournament in 2016 when they defeated Missouri, 1-0 in double overtime, before falling to North Carolina in the next round. KU lost to Missouri, 3-1, in the 2014 postseason.

Jesse Newell

Jesse Newell covers University of Kansas athletics for The Star.

This story was originally published November 5, 2018 at 6:43 PM.