Up this week
The University of Missouri women's soccer team travels to Texas to take-on Texas and Texas A&M. The Tigers and the Longhorns battle Fri., Oct. 13 at 7:00 p.m., in Austin. MU then plays the Aggies Sun., Oct. 15 at 1:00 p.m., in Houston.
Recent Results
Missouri is 8-6 with a 4-2 Big 12 Conference record after downing Colorado 2-0 and Texas Tech 3-1 at home Oct. 6-8.
Against Colorado, the Tigers dominated the game out shooting the Buffalo 18-9. They also logged six shots on goal and left CU to just three net attempts. Missouri also recorded its fourth shutout of the season-its third in the Big 12 Conference.
Against Texas Tech, Missouri ruled the match taking 29 shots (14 on goal) and scoring three goals. The Red Raiders were kept to just 11 shots (seven on goal) and one goal.
Scouting the Tigers
Mizzou is averaging 1.6 goals and 15.4 shots per game. The Tigers have 22 goals on the season with 98 shot on goal attempts for a .454 shot on goal percentage. Missouri also boasts 19 assists.
True to form, the Tigers have continued their trend of scoring late in the game, with 15 of their 22 goals scored during second half play.
Missouri fans also set the Tigers above their opponents, 4,048 MU soccer fans have turned out to show their support at home games this year. Mizzou averages 675 fans per game. The Tigers also set a single-game home attendance record twice during the season boasting 887 fans against Nebraska Sept. 29 and 1,105 fans against Iowa State Oct. 1.
Knockout Nikki
All-American Nikki Thole proved why she deserves to be among the nations' best once again this season. The senior is one of 15 finalists nominated for both the Missouri Athletic Club Collegiate Player of the Year Award and the Hermann Trophy, both of which honor the top collegiate soccer player in the nation. Against Texas Tech, the forward scored two goals and one assist to hand the Tigers a conference victory. Thole offered up an assist to post Missouri on the boards with a 1-0 lead over the Red Raiders. She then came back in the second half to score the game winner as well as put in a token point.
Thole collected a ball lobbed from the defensive ranks by Dyana Russell. She then dribbled the ball on a fast break, luring the keeper from the box before sending in a low ground ball for the goal. For her second goal of the game, Adriene Davis flicked a quick pass from the upper left goal post to Thole who slammed the ball into the left lower corner of the net.
The weekend boosts Thole to lead the Tigers with six goals, six assists and 18 points. She continues to set new team career records with 57 goals, 26 assists and 140 points.
Dynamite Davis
Freshman Adriene Davis ranks second on the team with 16 points. She owns six goals and four assists and leads the team with a .606 shots on goal percentage.
Over the weekend, Davis added a goal and an assist to the stats column. Against Colorado, the forward scored the game winner after collecting a pass from midfielder Steph Brennan for a five-yard cannon shot. She came back against Texas Tech to lend an assist to Thole.
In the Box
Goalkeeper Megan Duncan prematurely rounded out her freshman season against Texas Tech. The freshman broke two ribs in a collision with a Raider forward Sunday. The injury will have her sidelined for the rest of the year. Duncan has started the last eight games for the Tigers playing 740 minutes. She leads the team with a 1.46 goals against average and 43 saves. She also owns three shutouts.
"Megan was having a great year," Head Coach Bryan Blitz said. "It was an unfortunate accident, but I feel confident that she'll be back and ready to go next year."
Stepping up, freshman Stephanie Krawczyk looks to fill the starting goalkeeper slot. She came into the Texas Tech game to replace Duncan and turned out one of the best performances of the year. Playing 35 minutes of the match, Krawczyk made three saves, all of which were close range one-on-one shots. She has played 80 minutes overall and posts a perfect 0.00 goals against average making nine saves and allowing no goals.
Also looking to fill the starting goalkeeping role is Graham Watson. The junior entered the season with six games started. She has played 399 minutes and logs a 2.03 goals against average. She has made 28 saves and allowed nine goals. Watson also owns a 3-1 record with one shutout against Purdue.
Missouri Tidbits
- Midfielder Steph Brennan ranks third for the Tigers with six
points. The junior has two goals and two assists on the season. She also
posts a .500 shots on goal percentage with seven of 14 shots on net.
- Forward Jennifer McMaster is fourth on the team with five
points. She has scored two goals and one assist for the Tigers.
- Defender Dyana Russell posts herself in the stats column
with two assists for two points.
- Defender Mandy Waters also climbs into the scoring column recording one assist on the season.
Head Coach Bryan Blitz On the Tigers
"I think after Iowa State (who defeated the Tigers 1-0), we were forced to evaluate ourselves and get refocused. That game was a great example to us because it reminded us that we have to earn it each and every game. But, looking at our performance last weekend, we are beginning to come together at the right time. Now we are looking for a consistent winning effort. I think a lot of people count us out, but this team thrives on challenge and we don't count ourselves out, and that's what matters."
On Texas
"Texas is well coached and a team that is bursting with talent. It will be an extremely challenging game because they do so well at home in Austin, Texas. We have a tall task at hand, but after a week of practice I think we'll be ready for them."
On Texas A&M
"Texas A&M is one of the best teams in the country and is a great challenge. Both Texas and Texas A&M are ahead of us in both conference and regional standings, so we're heading into both games as the underdog. But, that's when we've proven ourselves to be the best."