Women's Soccer Opens Season with Two Home Contests
8/21/2000 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 21, 2000
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Coming up
The University of Missouri women's soccer team opens the 2000 regular season hosting Creighton and Purdue. The Tigers face the Bluejays in the season opener Fri., Aug. 25 at 4:00 p.m. Missouri plays Purdue Sun., Aug. 27 at 1:00 p.m. Both games will be played at the Audrey J. Walton Soccer Complex. Tickets are available at the gate or by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS.
Media Information
Members of the media still needing credentials for the 2000 MU women's soccer season need to submit a credential request in writing to Whitney Vernieuw, assistant media relations director, via fax or email. Fax requests to (573) 882-4720. Email requests to VernieuwW@Missouri.edu.
Schedule Changes
Media members wishing to set up interviews throughout the season are advised to contact the media relations office. Because practice schedules change daily interview availability can fluctuate. To get up-to date information on interview options please call the media relations office at (573) 882-2531.
As a reminder, all Missouri women's soccer practices are closed. Camera crews and photographers are allowed access to the first 20 minutes of practice on Tuesday and Thursday to gain footage. Coaches are available following all practices for interviews. Players will also be made available following practice, but by request only. Team practices will not be held on Monday and Friday. Interviews can also be made by appointment by calling the media relations office.
Recent Results
In their first game of the season, Missouri defeated Evansville 2-0 in exhibition play August 19. The Tigers opened the 2000 season with a victory, out shooting the Purple Aces 17-12 and pounding the Evansville net with 10 shots on goal.
Freshman Melissa McLellan started the season with her first collegiate goal on an assist by senior Jennifer McMaster. MU all-time scoring leader Nikki Thole added another goal to her legacy scoring an unassisted shot at 71:25.
Overall Mizzou looked good in the first outing, showing signs of fluidity and quickness in the outside passing lanes. The Tiger defense worked overtime in the first half of the game keeping the Aces' offense to just two shots. Evansville re-mustered strength in the second half taking 10 shots, but the competitive Tiger goal staff made four saves to ensure the shutout. All four goalkeepers saw playing time in the game.
Scouting Thole
Senior Nikki Thole has been named one of the 15 finalists for the prestigious Hermann Trophy, an honor awarded to the top collegiate soccer player in the nation by the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Thole is the first Big 12 player chosen as a finalist for the Hermann Trophy.
Thole began the year scoring her first goal in exhibition play against Evansville. The forward chased down an Ace defender to strip the ball and go in for a one-on-one shot in the box. Thole masterfully lured the Evansville keeper from position allowing the senior a clean strike into the right bottom corner of the net. Thole's performance against Evansville re-affirms the string of 1999 post-season and 2000 preseason award recommendations. The All-American and SoccerBuzz Central Region Offensive Player of the Year holds three Missouri records including all-time scorer (122 points), career goals leader (51) and all-time assists leader (21). She has been named to the Big 12 all-conference and all-tournament first teams for the past two years and was an all-conference second team member as a freshman.
Thole finished the 1999 season ranked ninth in the NCAA in goals per match (1.00) and was 11th in points per match (2.39).
MU Goalkeepers
The race for starting goalkeeper continues at a steady pace. Junior Graham Watson is MU's only returning keeper shouldering one win in 1999. Also competing for starting roles are freshmen newcomers Megan Duncan, Carey Patton and Stephanie Krawczyk. Friday's starter will be determined following this week's practice and scrimmage.
Mizzou Offense
The Tigers bring a seasoned lineup to the offensive ranks this season. Accompanying All-American Nikki Thole on the forward lines is senior transfer Jennifer McMaster. The forward spent her first three years of collegiate play at the University of Kentucky where she was an all-South East Conference selection and Kentucky's Offensive Most Valuable Player.
With the MU offensive centered on Thole and McMaster, three other forwards will see playing time in a rotational support system. Kristin Boeker was Missouri's fourth leading scorer last year with 10 points. Junior Sarah Sallee serves as the offensive workhorse dishing out assist opportunities. The forward scored 17 points as a sophomore from six goals and five assists. Rounding out the MU forward lines is freshman Adriene Davis. The newcomer made an impressive showing in the exhibition game taking two shots on goal. She looks to serve an integral role in Mizzou's attacking game.
Power in the Middle
Also adding strength to Missouri's clout are midfielders Amy Timmermann, Suzy Probst and Steph Brennan. Timmermann dished out 10 assists as a junior last season and three goals for 16 points. She looks to serve as the vital hinge in Mizzou's fluidity through the midfield. Probst jumped into the starting lineup as a freshman last year and quickly established herself as a key component in the Tiger offense. She contributed two goals and one assist. Brennan missed out on much of the 1999 season recovering from mononucleosis. The junior is back this year to serve as a transition player in the midfield.
Tiger Defense
The Missouri backfield has a solid core of upper class talent, experience and maturity. Anchored by Mandy Waters, Dyana Russell and Becky Paulsen the MU defense looks to be the cornerstone of the team. Waters returns to finish out her senior season after an ACL injury that sidelined the team captain last season. Russell started every match as a sophomore holding back the Big 12's most skilled offensive opponents. Paulsen, Missouri's six-foot senior, controls balls in the air and serves as a dominant force in the backfield. Also rounding out Mizzou's defensive capabilities is a talented core of newcomers vying for a fourth starting position.
A Quick Look at Creighton
The Bluejays finished the 1999 season 7-13-1 with a 2-3 league record and a fourth-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference. Creighton returns nine starters and 17 letterwinners to this year's squad including senior Kirsten Flink. The midfielder led the Bluejays with 20 points from eight goals and four assists. All-conference selection Heather Houska also bolsters the offense. She was second on the team with eight goals and 16 points in 1999. Starting goalkeeper Maggie Phelan is back for her senior season. She led the Bluejays with 82 saves and 1.56 goals against-average last year.
Creighton is coached by Bruce Ericksen who opened his seventh year of collegiate coaching with the Bluejays last season. In his second year with the team, Ericksen has compiled the team's toughest schedule to date including four ranked teams. This is the first match-up between the Tigers and Bluejays.
A Quick Look at Purdue
The Boilermakers enter the 2000 season backed by an 8-11 record and a 2-8 Big 10 Conference performance in 1999. Purdue finished 10th in the league. The Boilermakers return seven starters and 11 letterwinners. Team Most Valuable Player Jocely Cavalier returns as Purdue's starting goalkeeper. The junior had 74 saves, 34 goals against and a 2.06 goals-against average. Leading scorer Teri St. John also returns to bolster the midfield. The junior scored five goals and three assists for 13 points last year.
Purdue is coached by third-year director Robert Klatte. The head coach set up the Purdue program in 1998 and has established a 12-25 all-time record. In exhibition play this season, Purdue fell to Kentucky 4-0.
Last season, the Boilermakers defeated Missouri 1-5 to own the series record 1-0.
Coach Bryan Blitz
Opening the Season
"Going into the season the best thing we have is our depth. We didn't have that last year. However, our new ability was really apparent against Evansville, our depth off the bench is very impressive. The new team also shows a lot of patience. Evansville is a very frustrating team to play and they make you earn every goal. It really showed the leadership and maturity of the team the way they maintained composure.
We still need to work on ball movement. We need to move the ball much quicker through the midfield. We also have a few team defensive problems that need to be addressed. But, the good thing about both of these problems is that they are easy to fix."
On Creighton
"Creighton is along the same lines as Evansville, they are a good, young team. Creighton has a lot of talent and enthusiasm. We are out to be tested right away with a challenging first game."
On Purdue
"Last year, Purdue beat us worse than any other team and I see our upcoming game as one that will motivate us. Whenever we go up against a Big 10 team we face a strong opponent and I think we took Purdue lightly last year. We aren't looking for revenge so much as we are looking to use this game as a measure of the improvements we've made
