Sept. 11, 2001

DALLAS -- Kansas' Hilla Rantala, and Missouri's Dyana Russell and Melissa Peabody were named Big 12 Soccer Players of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday.

Rantala was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Jayhawks to two wins and the title of the San Diego State Invitational. The senior forward from Vantaa, Finland, scored three goals in the tournament, two against UNLV and the only goal of the game against SDSU. Rantala currently leads the Big 12 with four goals and nine points for the season.

Russell was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. She led the Missouri defensive line to post a perfect shot percentage against Indiana State. In 90 minutes, the Tigers out-shot the Sycamores 34-0 to record the first game in Mizzou history where the opposing team has not taken a shot on goal. Against Iowa, the senior defender from Magnolia, Texas, shut down the Hawkeyes' leading scorer in addition to scoring Missouri's second goal of the game. The goal was the first of her career.

Peabody was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. The freshman forward from St. Louis, Mo., was Mizzou's leading scorer last week after scoring game-winning goals against both Indiana State and Iowa. Peabody scored back-to-back goals against Indiana State. She leads Missouri with three goals and six points on the season.

Joni James
1 Assistant Director of Media Relations
Big 12 Conference
joni@big12sports.com