Nikki Thole Is MU's First Soccer All-American
12/10/1999 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Dec. 10, 1999
Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri All-Big 12 soccer forward NIKKI THOLE, is now All-America forward NIKKI THOLE. The junior was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America Second Team, the association announced today. Thole, who is the program?s all-time leading goal and point scorer, is the first Missouri student-athlete to earn All-America honors in soccer.
?We are so proud for Nikki to receive this honor,? HEAD COACH BRYAN BLITZ said. ?This is great for the University of Missouri and the Department of Athletics. We have so many student-athletes on our soccer team that play at a very high level, so to see a Tiger recognized among the nation?s best is great for our program.?
The leading scorer on Missouri?s first NCAA Tournament squad in 1999, Thole scored a Big 12 Conference-best 23 goals with nine assists for 55 points, also a best among Big 12 Conference players. Both her goal and point totals also set new MU school standards, as did her six match-winning goals during the season.
Her 2.39 points per match average led the Big 12 Conference and placed her nineth among all NCAA soccer players. A 1.00 goals per match average (23 goals-23 matches) also placed her in the top-15 in the NCAA standings.
She was an All-Central Region First Team, All-Big 12 Tournament and All-Big 12 First Team selection in 1999, earning both Big 12 honors for the second consecutive season.
Through three seasons (61 matches), Thole has scored 51 goals with 20 assists for 122 points in her career. She is the only Missouri Tiger soccer player to score 100 points in a career, a mark she reached during the 1999 season.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., Thole is the daughter of Ralph and Noi Thole and is an art education major. She is a 1996 graduate of Lindbergh High School were she graduated with 87 career goals.
