Jan. 2, 2001

Columbia, Mo.-SoccerBuzz has named Missouri women's soccer player Nikki Thole as an honorable mention All-American. The forward was also named to the SoccerBuzz all-central region first team.

Adding to her post-season honors, Thole was named to the Big 12 all-tournament first team and all-conference first team as a senior. She was also selected as a participant in the upcoming Umbro Selection tournament in February, where college athletes will be scouted for the upcoming professional women's soccer league to begin this summer.

A, 1999 National Soccer Coaches Association All-American, Thole led the Tigers this season with 29 points. She scored ten goals and nine assists and hit a .474 shot on goal percentage taking 36 of 76 shots to the net.

In 2000 Big 12 action, Thole ranked second in the league with 3.80 shots per game and was third overall in shots taken. She finished sixth in points averaging 1.45 points per game and was seventh in goals scored.

This season Thole was nominated for both the Hermann Trophy and the Missouri Athletic Club Collegiate Player of the Year Award, both of which honor the top college soccer player in the nation.

Thole rounded out her senior season as the most influential offensive player in Missouri history. She is Mizzou's all-time leading scorer with 61 goals and 151 points to be Missouri's first soccer player to reach 100 career points. Thole also owns the individual game records for scoring three goals and seven points against Texas Tech as a sophomore.