Nov. 7, 2001

Up this week
The University of Missouri women's soccer team travels to San Antonio, Texas, to compete in the Big 12 Tournament Nov. 8-11. The Tigers rounded out the 2001 season with a 5-5 record finishing fifth in league standings. Missouri will face No. 4 seeded Kansas in its first round of the tournament on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

The winner of the MU-KU game goes on to play the victor of the Iowa State-Texas game on Friday at 5:00 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Tickets
Tickets for the Big 12 Soccer Tournament are available through Ticketmaster statewide in Texas or can be purchased at Blossom Soccer Stadium. The ticket price is $5 per day. For more information, please call the Blossom Soccer Stadium at 1-806-321-7404.

NCAA Selection Show
The bracket for the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship will be announced live on Mon., Nov. 12 at 2:00 p.m., on various regional Fox Sports stations. Please check www.ncaachampionships.com under TV schedules for more information and additional regional stations.

The selection show can also be viewed via C band satellite. The coordinates are C Band, Telstar 5, Transponder 23, Downlink Frequency 4160 MHz (V).

The bracket will be available online at www.ncaachampionships.com following the program.

Tigers in the Big 12
Missouri is seeded fifth heading into the Big 12 Conference Tournament after going 5-5 in league play this season. Texas leads the pack tied with No. 2 seeded Texas A&M with a 9-1 conference record. Nebraska is third (8-1-1) and Kansas ranks fourth (7-3-0) above the Tigers. Oklahoma (4-5-1),Iowa State (3-5-2) and Baylor (4-7-0) round out the eight-team conference tournament bracket.

Mizzou leads the Big 12 with 49 assists on the season and is second averaging 2.58 assists per game. The Tigers are also second in the league in points with 153 on the year. Missouri is third in shots averaging 17.95 per game, goals averaging 2.74 per outing and saves averaging 5.16 per match. The Tigers are tied for fourth in the league with six complete shutouts.

All-Big 12 Recognition
Defender Dyana Russell and forward Adriene Davis were both honored as All-Big 12 Conference second team selections. The accolades are voted on by the league head coaches and released by the conference offices. This is Russell's second-year for all-conference second team recognition. Davis was named to the all-freshman team as a newcomer last season.

Also receiving accolades, Steph Brennan, Suzy Probst, Karen Bauer and Kristin Gibbons were each named to the academic All-Big 12 first team and Megan Duncan was named to the second team.

Scouting the Jayhawks
No. 4 seeded Kansas is 13-5 overall with a 7-3 Big 12 Conference mark. In their last match-up, the Jayhawks defeated the Tigers 2-0 in Lawrence, Kan., on Nov. 2. The loss ties the MU-KU series at 3-3.

Kansas is currently averaging 2.5 goals and 13.7 shots per game. A solid defensive team, KU is keeping its opponents to just 9.9 shots and 1.3 goals per contest.

The Jayhawks are led by forward Hilla Rantala with 10 goals, 12 assists and 32 points. Rantala has contributed eight of her 12 assists during conference play. She also leads the team taking 29-of-46 shots on goal for a .630 shot on goal percentage.

Monica Brothers is second for Kansas with 21 points. She has nine goals and three assists on the year, including six goals during Big 12 play. She has taken 23-of-37 shots on goal to post a .622 shot on goal percentage. She also had three game-winning goals on the year.

All-Big 12 Newcomer selection Meghan Miller anchors the Jayhawks in the box. She has played 1,529 minutes in 18 games recording a 13-5 season record. She has allowed 25 goals, made 53 saves and owns a 1.47 goals against average. She also owns four shutouts on the season, including three during conference play.

Last season, Kansas was knocked out the Big 12 Tournament in the first round with a 4-0 loss to Nebraska.

Tigers Last Ups
Missouri finished out the regular season going 1-1 against Kansas and Eastern Illinois. The Tigers dropped a 2-0 loss to the Jayhawks despite playing a solid game. KU only outshot Mizzou 18-to-12, but Missouri was only able to take six unsuccessful shots on goal against the Jayhawks.

The Tigers returned on Sunday to pull out a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over Eastern Illinois. After playing through a competitive and scoreless first half, EIU came back to post a goal in the 67th minute of play. The point inflamed Missouri's efforts bolstering the team to score three goals in six minutes of play.

Duncan Delivers
Goalkeeper Megan Duncan was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 15-20 after a 2-0 conference weekend against Colorado and Texas Tech. The sophomore logged her fourth shutout of the season against the Buffaloes making six saves in the Tigers' 2-0 victory. Against the Red Raiders, Duncan knocked down seven shots and allowed just one goal.

Duncan played 120 flawless minutes against Baylor and Arkansas-Little Rock. She made three saves against the Bears and one against the Trojans to earn two victories.

Overall, the Tulsa, Okla., native is 10-7 on the year. She has made 88 saves and allowed 26 goals to record a 1.67 goals against average. Duncan is fourth in the Big 12 in saves and is third in the league with 5.38 saves per contest. She is tied in fourth-place in the Big 12 with four shutouts and is eighth in shutouts per games. She has the leagues' seventh lowest goals against average.

Dynamite Davis
All-Big 12 second team selection Adriene Davis tied a Missouri record dishing out three assists in MU's 12-0 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock. The feat ties the sophomore with Erin Grimsley as co-owner of the Mizzou individual season assist record with 13.

In addition, Davis capped off the season scoring the game-tying goal against Eastern Illinois. Midfielder Steph Brennan sent a ground ball through to Tamara Kochen who one-touched another pass to Davis. The sophomore flicked the ball past the EIU goalkeeper to tie the match.

Playing in 17 games, Davis has scored 37 points. She also leads the Tigers with 12 goals and 13 assists. She has taken 68 shots overall, including 38 shots on goal to post a .559 shots on goal percentage. She also owns two game-winning goals.

Davis tops the Big 12 Conference in points and assists. The Edmond, Okla., native also leads the league in assists per game averaging 0.76 per outing. She is third in points per game with 2.18. Davis also ranks fifth in goals and overall shots.

Getting the Proof on Peabody
Melissa Peabody tied a Missouri single-game record netting three goals against Arkansas-Little Rock. She scored MU's first two goals, including the game-winner, just seven minutes apart. The feat topped a solid weekend for the forward as she also dished out an assist to help the Tigers defeat Baylor 5-2.

In non-conference play, Peabody recorded three back-to-back games scoring goals for Missouri. She posted her first collegiate goal against Indiana State when she scored two goals just eight minutes apart to win the Indiana State game 4-0. Against Iowa she once again scored the game winner to lead MU to it's fourth season victory and, in Mizzou's 6-1 victory over Drury, she posted two goals.

Against No. 1 ranked North Carolina, Peabody was the only Mizzou athlete to make an offensive advance. She took two shots, including one shot on goal against the Tar Heels.

Peabody is second on the team with 20 points. She has scored nine goals and two assist and leads the team with four game-winning goals. In Big 12 Conference standings, Peabody ranks seventh in shots and eighth shots per game averaging 3.56. She ranks eighth in goals, is 10th in points and is also tied for second in game-winning goals.

The Mastery of McLellan
Sophomore Melissa McLellan showed Mizzou fans exactly why she was named the Missouri soccer team's Most Improved Player in 2000. The forward scored two goals and dished out an assist to help the Tigers defeat Arkansas-Little Rock 12-0.

The 5-foot-9 McLellan used her height advantage to knock down two headers in the game, one crossed in by defender Dyana Russell and the other by defender Mandy Waters. McLellan also assisted Melissa Peabody score her third goal.

Overall, McLellan is third on the team with 14 points. She has six goals and two assists. She has taken 39 shots, including 22 shots on goal, to post a .564 shots on goal percentage. She also has one game-winning goal on the year.

On the Board
Freshman Kristen Heil added two goals to her season tally taking in both unassisted against Arkansas-Little Rock. She dribbled through the Trojan defense to launch her first firework and lured the UALR keeper from the box to net her second. Heil also helped the Tigers to a 5-2 victory over Baylor passing a ball to Steph Brennan to pick up an assist.

The scoring onslaught comes on the heels of Heil's first collegiate goal against Texas Tech. The forward headed in a bouncing ball sent in by Tamara Kochen.

She boosts her season point tally to nine as she has three goals and three assists. Heil has played in all 19 games for the Tigers playing an instrumental role for the Mizzou offense.

Bauer Breaking Out
Midfielder Karen Bauer continues to bolster Mizzou's scoring squad dishing out two assists to help the Tigers overcome Eastern Illinois 3-1. Bauer made back-to-back crosses to help Suzy Probst and Shea Swoboda score two goals within four minutes of play.

In the week prior, the sophomore scored the game-winning goal against Baylor netting a pass sent inside by forward Adrienne Davis. She came back just six minutes later to assist Davis with the Tiger's fourth goal of the game.

Against Arkansas-Little Rock, Bauer crossed a ball in to help Melissa Peabody score the game-winning goal. She then opened the second period scoring a goal just three minutes in on another assist by Davis.

Bauer is ranked fourth on the team with 15 points. She has five goals and five assists on the year, including two game-winning goals.

Defense is the Key
All-Big 12 second team selection Dyana Russell picked up another offensive accolade dishing out an assist in MU's 12-0 trouncing of Arkansas-Little Rock. The senior crossed in a corner kick enabling Melissa McLellan to capitalize with a header.

In addition to her offensive prowess, the defender continues to prove herself in the Tiger backfield. Russell anchors the Missouri defensive line that has thus far decimated the offensive opposition. In 17 games, she has helped the squad keep their opponents to just 134 shot on goal attempts and average just 12.4 shots per game.

Russell single handedly shut down North Texas' Marilyn Marin, the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and the Eagles leading scorer. Playing 77 minutes against Russell, Marin was only able to rip off two shots, neither of which was on goal. In addition, Russell topped Iowa offensive leader Sarah Lynch, who was kept to just four shots.

Her most impressive performance of the season came against No. 12 ranked Texas. Playing the entire 90 minutes against the Longhorns, Russell kept the Big 12 Conference leaders to just five shots on goal during the game. She also single-handedly shut down Texas scoring leader Kelly Wilson. Russell left the forward that regularly averages four shots and .75 goals per game without a single offensive attack.

Russell was honored as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 11. She is second on the defensive squad with five points coming from one goal and three assists on the year.

Waters Working the Field
Senior defender Mandy Waters has long been a contending force in the Missouri backfield, against Arkansas-Little Rock she showed that she won't be underrated on the offensive side of the ball. Waters scored two unassisted goals against the Trojans helping Mizzou set various team records.

She scored her first goal in the game taking a ball from the half and through the UALR defensive line before ripping a shot into the upper right corner of the net. She scored her second goal in the game on a ball sent out by a Trojan defender. Waters punched a one-touch kick into the back of the net for the score.

Waters leads the Mizzou defenders with eight points and ranks sixth on the team with eight points. She has scored two goals and contributed four assists. She is shooting 100 percent this season taking just two shots and scoring both. Waters was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for Oct. 28-Nov. 4.

Valuable Contributions
Adding to the solid defensive effort, junior walk-on Carrie Crossett and freshman Kim Hibbert have proven themselves as valuable assets to the Missouri defensive line.

Crossett, a walk-on to the 2001 squad, has started all 19 games, playing over 60 minutes each outing. She has also proven herself as a valuable offensive contributor as well as a ferocious defensive contender. She has four assists on the season, including the game-winning cross in MU's victories over Colorado and Texas Tech. She also dished out an assist to help Adriene Davis score against Baylor.

Hibbert has started 17 games for Mizzou. She scored her first collegiate goal of her career against Arkansas-Little Rock. The freshman dribbled the ball from the half, through the UALR defensive line and lured the Trojan goalkeeper for a direct shot on goal.

Crossett and Hibbert both add volumes of speed to the Tiger defensive game as well as impressive control and vision. The two newcomers join veterans Dyana Russell and Mandy Waters creating a solid defensive force keeping their opponents to just 134 shots on goal in 1,710 minutes of play, including a perfect shutout game against Indiana State where the Tigers outshot the Sycamores 34-0.

Moore in the Midfield
Also putting in minutes for the Tigers, freshman Lacy Moore has started every game thus far as MU's defensive center midfielder. She scored her first collegiate goal against Duke from an assist by defender Mandy Waters. She came back to score her second goal of the year against No. 17 ranked Texas A&M. Moore headed in a loft from senior Steph Brennan to put the Tigers on the board against the Aggies. She is seventh on the team in overall points.

As the season progresses, Moore continues to add both valuable defensive charisma and offensive flare to Mizzou's game. The 5-foot-8 freshman used her height advantage to knock in a goal against Baylor. Forward Melissa Peabody crossed in a high ball that Moore headed in to cap Missouri's scoring spree. Against Arkansas-Little Rock she again "used her head" to assist Adriene Davis capitalize in the net.

Moore has seven points on the season from three goals and one assist. A defensive phenom, Moore serves as a lynch pin in the Mizzou strategy. Using her height advantage, coupled with her speed and outstanding vision, she is quickly proving herself to be a valuable asset in the MU half field. Along side Suzy Probst and Steph Brennan, Moore adds a great deal of depth, control and leadership.

Finding Her Game
Israeli national team member Tamara Kochen exploded onto the Big 12 Conference scene against Colorado and Texas Tech. In just two games the freshman recorded four points with a goal and two assists. Kochen scored her second collegiate goal against the Buffaloes. Freshmen Ashley Gibbs and Kristen Heil moved the ball up the field for the forward where she was able to rocket a hard shot into top right corner of the Colorado net. Against Texas Tech, Kochen lofted a pass over the Red Raider defensive line to help Adriene Davis score the game-tying goal. She also came back to help Heil score her first goal of the year.

Kochen helped fuel the Mizzou fight against Texas A&M. Despite facing a 4-0 deficit, the freshman pounded the Aggie defensive line with assist attempts. With just 15 minutes left in the match her perseverance finally paid off. Kochen successfully lobbed a pass over the TA&M defense enabling defender Dallas Bird to lure the Aggie goalkeeper to score.

Rounding out the regular season, Kochen added another assist to her tally channeling a quick one-touch pass from Steph Brennan to Adriene Davis to help the Tigers tie Eastern Illinois 1-1. The goal ignited a Mizzou scoring spree propelling the team to score three goals in just under six minutes of play.

The weekend boosts Kochen to sixth on the team with eight points. She has two goals, four assists and one game-winning goal on the year.

Probst on the Prowl
Missouri fans have long known midfielder Suzy Probst to be one of the best defensive players in the Big 12 Conference, but in MU's season opener, the junior showed off her dynamic offensive flavor. Probst scored two of Missouri's three goals against Memphis to lead the Tigers to a 3-2 victory.

The midfielder scored the first goal of the game 20 minutes into the first period. Freshman Kristen Heil sailed a cross inside to forward Adriene Davis who was unable to take a solid shot. Davis made a tight ground pass to Probst in the box for the score. For her second play, Probst picked up a ball that ricocheted off a Memphis defender for an unassisted point.

Ending the regular season much as she began, Probst knocked in the game-winning goal against Eastern Illinois with a deep kick from outside the box. The junior collected a cross from midfielder Karen Bauer and rocketed the ball past the EIU goalkeeper.

Probst has three goals and one assist for seven points on the season.

In the Net
Goalkeeper Stephanie Krawczyk opened the 2001 season for MU against Memphis. She allowed two goals, made three saves and helped the Tigers to a 3-2 victory. The Anchorage, Alaska, native picked up her first shutout of the season against Indiana State recording a 4-0 victory and helped fellow keeper Megan Duncan post a joint shutout against Arkansas-Little Rock.

Krawczyk has played in six games this season making eight saves and allowing three goals for a 2.36 goals against average. She is 2-0 on the year.

Tiger Team Notes

* In individual game-highs, Adriene Davis is leads the nation with four assists and ties for tenth in the NCAA scoring eight points in a single-game against Drury. She is second in the country averaging 0.87 assists per game and ties for eighth with 2.33 points per outing.

* Melissa Peabody ties for 13th in the NCAA single-game statistics scoring three goals against Arkansas-Little Rock.

* Freshman Shea Swoboda capped in her third goal of the season against EIU. The forward collected a cross from sophomore Karen Bauer in the center of the Panther box to score the Tiger's third goal in the 3-1 come-from-behind victory. Swoboda has six total points on the season and is second on the team taking 15-of-17 shots on goal to post a .882 shot on goal percentage.

* The Tigers are averaging 2.7 goals per game while keeping their opponents to just 1.8 per outing.

* Missouri is currently ranked 10th in the SoccerBuzz Central Region rankings. The Tigers join fellow Big 12 opponents Nebraska,Texas, Texas A&M, Kansas and Baylor in the poll.

* This season, the Big 12 Conference has honored four Mizzou athletes as Big 12 Players of the Week. Megan Duncan, Dyana Russell and Mandy Waters have received Defensive Player of the Week accolades and Melissa Peabody was honored as a Newcomer of the Week.

* Defender Dallas Bird scored her first goal on the year against No. 17 ranked Texas A&M. The junior collected a ball passed over the Aggie defensive line by forward Tamara Kochen. Bird lured the TA&M keeper from the box for the score.

* Senior Stephanie Brennan added a goal and an assist to her season point tally against Baylor. She scored MU's second goal of the game on an assist by freshman Kristen Heil and helped Adriene Davis with a cross. Brennan came back to help the Tigers put in the game-tying goal against EIU when she assisted Tamara Kochen and Davis. She has one goal and five assists on the year for seven points.

* Missouri ranks fifth in the Big 12 Conference in home attendance. The Tigers average 602 fans per match.