Aug. 19, 2000

The University of Missouri women's soccer team defeated Evansville 2-0 in exhibition play today. The Tigers opened the 2000 season with a victory, out shooting the Purple Aces 17-12 and pounding the Evansville goal with 10 shots on goal.

Freshman Melissa McLellan started the season with her first collegiate goal. She scored in the thirty-fifth minute on a pass from senior Jennifer McMaster. McMaster crossed a shot from the left corner of the goal box enabling McLellan to slam the point deep into the upper left-hand corner of the net.

MU all-time scoring leader Nikki Thole added another goal to her legacy scoring an unassisted shot at 71:25. Thole chased down an Evansville defender to gain possession of the ball and lured the goalkeeper from of the box. The senior then masterfully shot a low ball into the right corner pocket.

All four Tiger goalkeepers saw action in the contest, but junior Graham Watson stepped out as MU's dominant keeper. She made two saves in the game including a key save in the last minutes of the first half. Watson went one-on-one with an Evansville forward that managed to breech the Tiger defense. The keeper turned out a direct shot and kept Mizzou to a 1-0 lead going into the half.

Missouri kicks off regular season play Fri., Aug 25 at 4:00 p.m. when they host Creighton at the Audrey J. Walton Soccer Complex.