Sept. 13, 2000

Tiger Travel
The University of Missouri women's soccer team travels to Winston-Salem, N.C., to compete in the Wake Forest Invitational Sept. 15-17. The Tigers face Virginia Tech in the tournament on Fri., Sept. 15 at 5:00 p.m. Mizzou plays California Sun., Sept. 17 at 11:30 a.m. Both games will be played at the Wake Forest Soccer Field.

Travel Itinerary
Missouri is scheduled to depart Kansas City, Mo. on Thurs., Sept. 14 at 3:35 p.m. on Delta flight #1638 and arrive in Cincinnati, Ohio at 6:15 p.m. The Tigers then catch connecting flight #1524 at 7:00 p.m. that arrives in Greensboro, N.C., at 8:15 p.m. On their return Sun., Sept. 17, Mizzou departs Greensboro on Delta flight #1612 at 5:00 p.m. and arrives in Cincinnati at 6:32 p.m. The Tigers fly into Kansas City on flight #1544 arriving at 8:56 p.m.

While in Winston-Salem, Tiger hotel accommodations will be provided by the Ramada Plaza Hotel at 3050 University Parkway (336) 723-2911.

Recent Results
Missouri falls to 3-3 after falling to Ohio State and Michigan in the Michigan Nike Invitational Sept. 8-10.

The Buckeyes took the Tigers into overtime before sealing a 3-2 victory with a sudden death game winner. Missouri dominated the game scoring two goals and keeping Ohio State from posting a score until the last 20 minutes of the match. Fatigue proved to be the Tigers downfall as they allowed Buckeye scoring leader Lindsay Eckles two goals to tie the game. The sophomore also came back to score the game winner.

The Tigers and Wolverines played their game in a torrential downpour that blanketed the field with almost an inch of water. Adding to the weather, Missouri was unable to find a rhythm in the game and fell 7-0.

Scouting the Tigers
Missouri has scored 11 goals on 94 attempts for a .117 shot percentage. Forty-five of Mizzou's 94 shots have been on goal lending the team a .479 shot on goal percentage. The Tigers are averaging 1.8 goals and 15.7 shots per game.

In the box, the Mizzou goalkeeping staff has played 541.52 minutes, has allowed 14 goals and posts a goals against average of 2.33. The keepers have made 35 saves for a .714 saves percentage.

Dynamic Duo
All-American Nikki Thole and freshman Adriene Davis turned in another solid performance for the Tigers against Ohio State. The forwards once again paired up to record a goal and an assist in MU's 3-2 loss to the Buckeyes.

Thole scored her 53rd career goal on a penalty kick in the first half. She then came back to lend an assist to Davis for the score.

Davis leads the team with four goals, three assists and 11 points. She has taken 17 shots, 11 on goal and has a .647 shots on goal percentage.

Thole is second on the team with three goals and three assists for nine points. She leads the team with 25 shots and 14 shots on goal. She posts a .560 shots on goal percentage.

In the Box
Starting goalkeeper Graham Watson leads the Tigers with 444 minutes played. She has allowed only nine goals and records a 1.82 goals against average. She has also made 28 saves for a .757 save percentage. Watson is 3-1 on the season also recording a 2-0 shutout against No.13 ranked Wake Forest. She was honored as the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 4-10.

MU Forwards
Freshman Melissa McLellan ranks No. 3 for the Tiger offense with two goals and four points. Following McLellan, senior midfielder Kristin Boeker is fourth on the team with one goal and one assist for three points. She has taken five shots on goal and is second on the team with a .625 shots on goal percentage. Senior Jennifer McMaster rounds out MU's offensive power. The forward has scored one goal for two points. She has taken eight shots and four on goal for a .500 shots on goal percentage.

Scouting Virginia Tech
The Virginia Tech Hokies are 3-4 on the season boasting wins over Liberty, Radford and Loyola College. Virginia Tech has scored 13 goals this season averaging 1.9 goals per game. They have dominated the competition taking 120 shots and leaving the opposition to just 78 attempts. Tech junior Victoria Sarfo-Kantanka's handed the Hokies their last 2-0 victory over Loyola College, scoring two unassisted goals in the game. She leads the team with four goals and one assist for nine points. Starting goalkeeper Katie Hancock has played 427 minutes and allowed nine goals. She has 32 saves and posts a 1.5 goals against average. Last season, the Hokies finished 9-10. This is the first match-up between Missouri and Virginia Tech.

Scouting California
The Golden Bears enter the weekend with a perfect 5-0 record-their first perfect winning streak since 1996. Cal has held their opponents scoreless while posting 21 goals, which is half of their 1999 total of 42. California boasts wins over San Francisco, James Madison, Navy, Xavier and Kent State.

The Bears are led by Laura Schott who has seven goals and one assist for 15 points. Kyla Sabo comes in second with three goals and two assists for eight points. In the box, keeper Maite Zabala has played 411 minutes and has a perfect 100 percent goals against average making six saves and owning 4.5 shutouts.

Last season, California was 13-7-1 with a 6-3 Paccific-10 record. The Bears finished fourth in the conference and made their first NCAA regional appearance dropping out of the first round after being defeated by Brigham Young 2-0. This is the first meeting between Missouri and California.

Quoting Bryan Blitz
On the Hokies
"Virginia Tech is a very tough minded, physical team. I think facing them will be a real war."

On the Bears
"California is undefeated. They are well coached and extremely talented. I think it will be a great challenge to play them. California is at the same level of the previous teams we have played, but I planned the challenging schedule for a reason it allows us to measure ourselves against the best."

On the Tigers
"We need to refocus and recommit ourselves to the blue collar work ethic that has been the cornerstone of our team. We need to recenter ourselves so that we find the ability to play different teams and overcome different styles of play. We need to work to get back to the same level we were at and to do that we need to focus on mental preparedness and playing hard the entire game. When it all comes down to it, it's all about who's willing to pay the price."