Aug. 27, 1999

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri women?s soccer team opened their regular season at the Audrey J. Walton Track-Soccer Field-Stadium with a 2-1 loss to the Duke University Blue Devils in the first regular season match for both schools Friday. While it was not the way the Tigers wanted to begin their season Head Coach Bryan Blitz is still pleased.

?This gives us the opportunity to focus on Sunday. I think we started off a little slow. I think we were a little nervous, but in the second half we created chances and turnedup the intensity.?

The Tigers were pounced on by Duke in the first four minutes of the game when a Missouri foul was called outside of the goal box. Duke?s Susan Kraeger snuck the ball past Missouri goalkeeper Jackie Adamec from twenty yards out on a restart kick and the Blue Devils were up 1-0.

Just three minutes into the second half, Missouri forward Nikki Thole netted the first MU goal of 1999 tying the score at 1-1. Thole collected the ball just outside the goal box and then lofted a shot past the charging Duke goalkeeper and into the corner of the net. Then in the sixty-ninth minute, Duke forward Alexis Highsmith collected a loose ball in front of the Tiger net and tapped in the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal for Duke.

The Tigers had several chances and near misses throughout the game including three shots on goal that hit either the crossbar or the left and right post.

?Two or three different bounces and we win that game,? Blitz said. ?But that is the way the game goes and we will be ready for Colorado on Sunday.?

Duke coach Bill Hempen echoed Blitz?s comments on Duke?s good luck and the Tigers? misfortune.

?They are is as good as any team we will play. I have to give them a lot of credit. We got lucky.?

Missouri will open its Big 12 Conference schedule with its next match, Sunday, August 29 at 1pm versus Colorado at Walton Stadium. Missouri defeated the Buffaloes last season, 6-1 in Boulder.