July 19, 1999

Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri women's soccer team will begin training this week for their summer trip to Holland for competition. The Tigers will begin a five day, two practices a day training session on Saturday, July 24 at 9am leading up to their July 29 departure for Holland. All practices will be held at the Audrey J. Walton Track Soccer Field Stadium.

In Holland, Missouri will play three games in five days versus professional and national teams of varying ages and skill levels, exact information on each opponent will not be determined until MU arrives overseas. The Tigers will remain in Europe until August 5.

"This is a reward for the founders of this program," head coach Bryan Blitz said. "We want this to become a tradition where is you stay in our program for four years, you will have the opportunity to go overseas at some point during your career."

NCAA regulations limit member institutions to one such trip every four years of competition.

"We believe this [trip to Holland] will make us a more sophisticated team because we will be playing teams that probably have more experience than us and play a different style of soccer," Blitz said. "It will really be a bonding experience for our players, plus it gives us two weeks of training together that we normally would not have."

Members of the media interested in attending any of the women's soccer practices next week should first contact the Missouri Sports Information Office for the time of individual practices.

Soccer Practice Times

Saturday, July 24 - 9am-11am & 4pm-6pm

Sunday, July 25 - 9am-11am & 4pm-6pm

Monday, July 26 - Wednesday, July 28 - All Times TBA