Missouri Soccer Opens 2001 Big 12 Season
9/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Sept. 26, 2001
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Up This Week
The University of Missouri opens the 2001 Big 12 Conference season against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. The Tigers face the Cowgirls on Fri., Sept. 28 at 7:00 p.m. The MU-OU game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., on Sun., Sept. 30.
Both games will be played at Audrey J. Walton Soccer Complex. Tickets are available at the Walton Stadium Ticket Office on game day or by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS.
Oklahoma State Promotions
The Tiger soccer team pairs up with the Mizzou volleyball team to offer sports fans an exciting and unique package this weekend. Missouri is offering the Oklahoma Gold Rush program where participants can purchase tickets to see both soccer games and the MU volleyball game played in the Hearnes Center at 7:00 p.m., on Sat., Sept. 29 for just $10. Gold Rush tickets can be purchased at the Walton Stadium Ticket Office on Friday, or at the Hearnes Center ticket window.
Friday's game is also Greek Night. The Tigers invite Missouri sorority and fraternity members to a battle for school spirit. The house with the highest attendance at the Oklahoma State game will receive a Chevy's prize pack.
Oklahoma Promotions
Along with Gold Rush ticket package offered throughout the weekend, soccer fans sporting their Mizzou gold on Sunday will receive admission for just $1. Likewise, spectators presenting a stub from the Nebraska football game on Sat., Sept. 29 will get in for just $2.
Sunday is also Truman Club Day. All Truman Club members presenting their membership card at the game receive free admission.
Missouri in the Big 12
The Tiger offense tops the Big 12 Conference across the board. Missouri leads the league averaging 2.29 assists per game. The Tigers are also second in points scored (7.43), goals (2.57) and are third in shots (19.29).
On the defensive side, Missouri leads the conference with 34 saves to average 4.86 saves per outing. MU is also third in with three shutouts on the season.
Scouting Oklahoma State
The Cowgirls are 4-3 in 2001 ranking seventh in the Big 12 during non-conference action. Oklahoma State defeated East Central Oklahoma (3-1), Drury (4-0), Northern Iowa (3-0) and SMS (4-0).
Kim Graves leads the Cowgirls with four goals and nine points on the year. Jolene Schweitzer is second on the team with three goals and seven points. She leads the team with 14 shots on goal. Nikki Wajtowicz tops the OSU charts with four assists.
In the goal box for Oklahoma State, Kat Doud has played all 630 minutes. She is 4-3 on the year making 20 saves and allowing five goals to post a 0.71 goals against average. Doud also owns three shutouts on the season.
Sixth-year Head Coach Karen Hancock took the Cowgirls to a 4-14-1 season record last year. OSU was 1-8-1 and finished 11th in Big 12 Conference play in 2000. In their last match-up, Missouri defeated Oklahoma State 2-0. The Tigers lead the MU-OSU series 5-0.
Scouting Oklahoma
The Sooners are 6-1-0 on the season to rank second in the Big 12 in non-conference play. Oklahoma took its only loss of the year to SMU 1-0.
Oklahoma is led by Logan Womack with 14 points and seven goals. She has taken 20-of-31 shots on goal to lead the team shooting 64 percent on goal. Womack also tops the team with six game-winning goals on the season.
Jonette Coquat is second on the team with eight points. She has three goals and two assists on the year. Shannon Wing leads OU in assist with four. She has six overall points.
Jana Cunningham and Catherine Wade have split time in the Sooner goal box this season. Cunningham is 3-1 on the year, including three shutout victories. She has allowed one goal and has made 15 saves. She posts a 0.21 goals against average. Wade is 3-0 on the season playing 210 minutes in the net. She has made 12 saves and has a perfect goals against average.
Oklahoma is led by third-year Head Coach Randy Evans. Last season, the Sooners finished with a 10-9-1 record going 4-5-1 and finishing sixth in the Big 12 Conference. Missouri leads the MU-OU series 4-0 taking their last victory over the Sooners in a 1-0 game last season.
What to watch this Weekend
"Big 12 Conference games are at an entirely different level than what we have played so far this season," Head Coach Bryan Blitz said. "Oklahoma State is a blue colar, hard working team. In order to play successfuy against them we will have to work diligently to match their intensity. Oklahoma is the team to beat. They are ranked ahead of us in league standings. The Sooners are a very athletic team and we will emphasize our game toward combating that athleticism."
Tigers Last Ups
The Tigers are 5-2 heading into Big 12 Conference play after defeating Drury 6-1 and falling to Duke (3-2) and No. 1 ranked North Carolina (7-0) in the Duke Invitational last week.
Missouri outshot Drury 26-11, including a 15-to-6 shot on goal differential. The Tigers dominated the game from kick off giving up a hat trick goal at the end of the first period to allow the Panthers their only goal in the game.
The Tigers played a rough game against Duke. The Blue Devils scored the first goal in the match before Mizzou was able to come back with two. Missouri scored a third goal in the game to lead 3-1, but the goal was disqualified as an offsides ball. The stutter slowed down the MU offense and resulted in two Duke goals for the game-winner.
Mizzou started seven newcomers against the 2000 national champion North Carolina Tar Heels. Despite the numbers, Missouri exhibited solid play and reinforced defensive prowess. The MU defensive line of Dyana Russell, Mandy Waters, Carrie Crosset and Kim Hibbert stoically withstood an onslaught of offensive advances from some of the country's finest athletes. Likewise, goalkeeper Megan Duncan played an intense game displaying much improvement from her previous year.
Dynamite Davis
All-Big 12 candidate Adrienne Davis gave Tiger fans another reason to pack the stands with an amazing display in MU's 6-1 victory over Drury. The forward contributed to every goal scored in the game dishing out four assists and scoring two goals. Davis set two Missouri single-game records with the feat in assists and scoring eight points.
Davis came back to score an unassisted goal against Duke just four minutes into the second half.
In just seven games, the sophomore has scored 15 points. She has four goals and leads the team with seven assists. She has taken 31 shots overall, including 17 shots on goal to post a .548 shots on goal percentage.
Davis tops the Big 12 Conference with seven assists to average 1.17 assists per outing. She also leads the league with 15 points to average 2.50 points per game. She is third in the league with 31 shots to average 5.17 shots per game. She is sixth in goals scored.
Getting the Proof on Peabody
Melissa Peabody continues to rack up points for the Tigers. The freshman scored two goals against Drury to boost her season tally to five. She is second on the team with 10 points and leads the Tigers in goals scored.
The forward 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.
In Big 12 Conference standings, Peabody ranks third in goals scored with 0.71 per game. She is also fifth averaging four shots per outing and is third with two game-winning goals on the season. Peabody is sixth in the league in overall points. She was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for the week of Sept. 11.
Defense is the Key
All-Big 12 candidate Dyana Russell picked up another offensive accolade in the Tigers' topping of Drury. The senior dished out her first assist of the season to help Missouri to a victory. The point marks Russell's third of the season adding to an unassisted goal against Iowa.
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 seven games, she has helped the squad keep their opponents to just 47 shot attempts to average just 11.9 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.
She was honored as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 11.
Valuable Contributions
Adding to the solid defensive effort, freshman Kim Hibbert and junior walk-on Carrie Crosset have proven themselves as valuable assets to the Missouri defensive line. Both players have started all seven games for the Tigers, playing over 80 minutes each game. Hibbert and Crosset add volumes of speed to the Tiger defensive game as well as impressive control and vision. Joining Russell and senior Mandy Waters, the foursome serve as a solid force keeping its opponents to just 47 shots in 630 minutes of play, including a perfect shutout game against Indiana State where the Tigers outshot the Sycamores 34-0.
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. Along side Suzy Probst and Steph Brennan, Moore adds a great deal of depth, control and leadership to the MU half field.
Earning their Stripes
Also scoring her first career goal was MU's first international player Tamara Kochen. The Beer Tuvyia, Israel, native scored her collegiate goal unassisted. She collected a ball that was deflected from an Indiana State defender for a quick shot and score. So far this season, Kochen has played in five games and has taken two shots on goal.
Probst on the Prowl
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.
Probst is third on the team with two goals and four points on the season. She ranks 11th in the Big 12 in goals scored.
In the Net
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. Krawczyk is ranked fourth in the Big 12 in shutouts and seventh with a 1.00 goals against average. In the Big 12 Conference, Krawczyk is sixth in shutouts and ninth in goals against average.
Duncan made her inaugural appearance with a 1-0 shutout against North Texas. She was only forced to make one save in the game. She recorded her second shutout victory against Iowa making six saves in the 2-0 triumph. The sophomore picked up her third win of the season against Drury. She made five saves and allowed one goal in the game. Overall, the Tulsa, Okla., native has made 30 saves and allowed nine goals to record a 1.90 goals against average. Duncan leads the Big 12 with 30 saves on the season to average six saves per game. She is also third in shutouts.
Tiger Team Notes
? Missouri set a season mark recording three back-to-back shutouts against North Texas, Indiana State and Iowa.
? The Tigers also set a season record with a five-game home win streak. It is the most consecutive victories MU has claimed in Audrey J. Walton Soccer Complex.
? In its opening game, Missouri topped the record book when a crowd of 1,926 cheered the Tigers to a 3-2 victory over Memphis.
? Sophomore forward Melissa McLellan is tied for third on the team with four points. She scored in MU's inaugural game against Memphis and chipped in the Tigers' first goal against Drury.
? Freshmen Lacy Moore, Kim Hibbert and Melissa Peabody played all 90 minutes against the No. 1 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.
? North Carolina set a new opponent record against the Tigers with 11 single-game assists. Texas A&M held the previous record against MU with seven back in 1999. Likewise, the Tar Heels set the opponent record with 24 points scored against MU.
? Missouri's 5-2 season start is the best opener in program history.
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.
Megan Duncan and Stephanie Krawczyk once again prove to be a cunning pair in the Missouri backfield. Each goalkeeper has played valuable minutes for the Tigers in the net this season. Duncan is 3-2 on the year and Krawczyk posts a 2-0 tally.
? Midfielder Steph Brennan and defender Kristin Gibbons are tied for ninth in the Big 12 Conference with two assists on the season.
