Sept. 5, 2000
Leading the Pack
The University of Missouri women's soccer team jumps into the No. 12 spot in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America rankings. The Tigers climb into the Top 25 after defeating No. 18 Florida State (2-1) and No. 12 Wake Forest (2-0) to win the Ellis Copy Tiger Invitational Sept. 1-3. Sitting in the No. 12 seat is the highest ranking yet achieved by the five-year program. The Tigers opened the season ranked 26th, but dropped out of the polls after falling to No. 24 ranked Purdue 2-1.
Up This Week
The Tigers travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to compete in the Michigan Nike Invitational Sept. 8-10 hosted by the University of Michigan. Missouri faces Ellis Copy participant Ohio State on Friday at 2:00 p.m., and takes-on Michigan Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Both games will be played at the Michigan Soccer Field.
Travel Itinerary
Missouri is scheduled to depart St. Louis, Mo., Thurs., Sept. 7 at 1:11 p.m., on TWA flight #216 and arrive in Detroit, Mich., at 3:51 p.m. On their return flight, the Tigers depart Detroit on Sun., Sept. 10 at 7:00 p.m., and arrive in St. Louis at 9:38 p.m. While in Ann Arbor, Mich., hotel accommodations will be provided by the Ann Arbor Sheraton Inn at 3200 Boardwalk, (734) 996-8136.
Recent Results
Missouri boosts its season record to 3-1 defeating Florida State and Wake Forest in the Ellis Copy Tiger Invitational.
The Tigers downed the Seminoles 2-1 on Sept. 1. Mizzou led the contest taking 22 shots, including eight on goal, while leaving FSU to 15 shots and seven on goal. The teams battled through a scoreless first half before the Tigers posted two goals in the second. The Seminoles pounded the Missouri net with six shots on goal, but were only able to put one ball past Tiger goalkeeper Graham Watson.
Against Wake Forest, Mizzou worked as a well-oiled machine running circles around its ranked opponent. The Tigers only outshot the Demon Deacons 15-14, but posted as 12-15 shots on goal ratio. The Mizzou defense shut down Wake Forest's offensive power allowing only six shots on goal. The shutout is the Tigers' first of the season.
Scouting the Tigers
Missouri is averaging 2.2 goals and 18.5 shots per game. The Tiger offense also posts a .500 shot on goal percentage taking 37 of 74 shots to the net. Mizzou has nine goals and seven assists on the season for 25 points. The MU defense has kept the opponents to just four goals and three assists for 11 points.
In the Box
Starting goalkeeper Graham Watson was named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 4-10. The junior receives the title after recording her first shutout of the season in Missouri's 2-0 victory over Wake Forest. Watson played the entire 180 minutes in Mizzou's two games during the Ellis Copy Tiger Invitational, also logging a 2-1 win over Florida State. She recorded 12 saves and allowed only one goal over the weekend.
The series brings Watson to a 3-1 season record. She has played 285 minutes allowing only three goals. She has made 20 saves and posts an incredible .95 goals-against average.
Dynamic Duo
All-American Nikki Thole and freshman Adriene Davis, the Tiger's only starting freshman, once again served as a key component in Mizzou's offensive clout. The forwards both recorded a goal and an assist over the weekend.
Against Florida State, Davis dished out an assist enabling senior Nikki Thole to score. The freshman lured the keeper from the box before sending a quick pass to Thole for the goal. The situation reversed against Wake Forest. Thole took a shot that was blocked by the Deacon goalkeeper. Before the keeper could reposition, Davis collected the ball and took it to goal.
Davis leads the team with three goals and three assists for nine points and is second for the Tigers with 12 shots on goal. Thole leads Missouri with 18 shots and is second with two goals and two assists for six points.
Freshman Fire
Forward Melissa McLellan is third on the team with two goals and four points. She has played in all four games thus far and has recorded eight shots, three on goal. McLellan scored an unassisted goal against Wake Forest. The freshman collected a drop kick from goalkeeper Graham Watson and dribbled through the Deacon defensive line for the score. McLellan also scored a goal in MU's 4-1 victory over Creighton.
A Quick Look at Ohio State
Ohio State is 2-2 on the season. The Buckeyes defeated Florida State (2-1) and recorded a loss to Wake Forest (2-1) in the Ellis Copy Tiger Invitational.
Ohio State pulled out an amazing 2-1 victory over Florida State despite the Seminoles outshooting the Buckeyes 25-8. FSU took 16 shots on the net but were kept to just one goal by OSU keeper Amber Barnes.
Sophomore scoring leader Lindsay Eckles extended her scoring streak to three games, putting up goals in both games. She scored an unassisted goal within the first two minutes of play against Florida State and scored the Buckeyes' only goal against Wake Forest. The feat boosts her season point total to nine with four goals and one assist.
This is the first match-up between the Tigers and Buckeyes.
A Quick Look at Michigan
Michigan is 0-2 dropping out of the NSCAA rankings No. 21 spot after losing to No. 17 ranked Southern California 2-1 and taking a devastating 4-0 loss to unranked Arizona State in the Arizona State Sun Devil Classic.
The Wolverines return from a 1999 season that saw them to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, a Big Ten Tournament championship and a 17-6-1 season record. Michigan returns Kacy Beitel and Abby Crumpton who scored 66 of Michigan's 167 points last season. Carissa Stewart also returns as the Wolverines starting goalkeeper.
In the Missouri-Michigan series, the teams are tied 1-1. The Wolverines claimed a 4-2 victory in their first meeting in 1997, but the Tigers returned to boast a 4-1 win in 1999.
Head Coach Bryan Blitz
On the Tiger Offense
"I am so happy with the improvement in our possession play. We possessed the ball and it allowed us to follow through with an effective attacking style. I was also impressed with how the team was able to bounce back after our loss to Purdue. It wasn't just the win, but the way we played and the competition we overcame."
Mizzou Defense
"Graham Watson is definitely the talk of the defense. She is playing fantastic. Hers is a story like Notre Dame's Rudy. Dyana Russell, Becky Paulsen and Mandy Waters carry the team in the back and I am really impressed with Kristin Gibbons who has stepped in to fill a valuable spot on the defense."
Team Chemistry
"The team is such a great mix of old and new athletes. We have great leadership from our upper classmen, but we also have an enthusiastic vibe brought in by our freshmen. Our success is a mix of good chemistry, winning experience, leadership and freshman spark."
On Ohio State
"Ohio State beat Florida State and almost beat Wake Forest. After watching them over the weekend I can confidently say they are one of the toughest teams we'll face this season. They won't be taken lightly."
On Michigan
"Michigan is one of the best teams in the country. They are established and won the Big 10 conference last year, which is a hard conference to win. Michigan has loads and loads of talent and I expect to see a different team than what the competition faced last weekend."