A historic start to the season
The University of Kansas women's soccer program has reached a milestone, climbing to No. 12 in both the IWSOC Top 25 Coaches Poll and the TopDrawerSoccer national rankings. The rise marks the highest position ever attained under third‑year head coach Nate Lie, who took over the program three seasons ago.
Kansas opened the campaign with two shutout victories, blanking Utah State and Missouri State while outscoring opponents 7‑0 across the first two games. The seven‑goal outburst set a new program record for a single match and represented the most goals scored on the road in school history.
Junior midfielder London De Fini emerged as a central figure in the surge. She recorded a goal and three assists in the win over Missouri State, establishing new career highs and earning a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week. Her defensive work helped the team concede just one shot in the shutouts, tying a program record for fewest shots allowed.
The momentum will be tested on August 20, when the Jayhawks travel to Columbus, Ohio, to face No. 12 Ohio State at 4 p.m. CT. The matchup pits two of the nation’s top‑12 teams against each other in an early‑season showdown that could further cement Kansas’s ascent.
Coach Nate Lie praised the team’s collective effort, noting that the early results reflect months of intensive preparation and a culture shift toward disciplined defending and aggressive attacking. The upcoming contest against Ohio State offers a prime opportunity to gauge the Jayhawks’ progress against a formidable opponent.