Sept. 4, 2003
Nike Tiger Invitational
The Missouri women's soccer team gladly welcomes Arizona, Arkansas and Purdue to the 2003 Nike Tiger Invitational held in Audrey J. Walton Stadium. The four-game tournament is scheduled to begin on Friday, Sept. 5 at 4:30 p.m., when the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks face the Arizona Wildcats. Mizzou follows up playing against Purdue in a second game at 7:00 p.m.
Continuing tournament play on Sunday, Sept. 7, Arkansas kicks off against Purdue at 10:00 a.m. The Tigers round out the tournament schedule with a final game against Arizona beginning at 12:00 p.m.
* A conflict in airline scheduling has prompted the need to begin Sunday's matches early. Veering from Mizzou's previous printed schedule of 10:30 and 1:00 p.m. starts, the Arizona-Purdue game will now begin at 10:00 a.m., and the Missouri-Arizona game will start at 12:00 p.m.
Scouting Purdue
The Boilermakers opened the 2003 season with a 1-0-1 record defeating Marshal in a 3-0 shutout victory before tying Eastern Michigan in a 2-2 standoff. Ranked #25 in the NSCAA/adidas preseason poll, Purdue has fallen out of the rankings this week despite its victory.
Leading the Boilermakers early in the year, Annette Kent has scored two goals for a team high four points. Courtney Coppedge leads Purdue in the assists column, dishing out two. Anchoring the Boilermakers in the goalbox, keeper Lauren Mason has played 135 minutes allowing two goals for a 1-0-1 record.
Last year, Purdue finished with a 14-6-2 record going 6-3-1 in the Big 10 Conference. The Boilermakers lead the PU-MU series 2-0, including a 2-1 victory in the last match-up in 2000.
Eyeing Arizona
The Wildcats are 1-1-0 on the year dropping their first match of the season in a 2-1 loss against Iowa State. Coming back in their next match however, the team defeated Kent State in a 3-0 shutout.
Candice Wilks tops Arizona scoring two goals for four points. Also helping the Wildcats, Lisa Kosena and Erin Bevacqua each put in goals to open the AU season. Splitting time in the goalbox, keepers Krystal Werges and Natalie Juarez each own a game in the net. Werges is 1-0 on the year making four saves to earn a shutout victory against Kent State while Juarez is 0-1 making three saves and allowing two goals against the Cyclones.
Arizona was 6-12-1 last season with a 1-8-0 record in the Pacific-10 Conference. This is the first meeting between the Tigers and the Wildcats.
Checking Arkansas
Joining the tournament bracket, Arkansas is 2-0 taking season opening losses to Oklahoma (1-3) and Tulsa (1-2).
Scoring for the Razorbacks, sisters Christina and Devon Burger each own one goal. Keeping eye on the backfield, Carrie Dillsaver is 0-2 on the year making 10 saves and allowing five goals.
Arkansas rounded out the 2002 season with a 7-12-1 record with a 3-5-1 mark in the Southeastern Conference.
Tigers' Last Time Out
Sloshing through a rainy Sunday wasn't exactly how the Tigers planned to open their 2003 home season, but taking a win against Northwestern was right on target.
Mizzou defeated the Wildcats 2-0 posting its second consecutive shutout victory on the year. It marks just the second time in program history the Tigers have won their first two games dating back to the 2001 season. It is also the first time Missouri has defeated Northwestern closing the gap on the Wildcat's series lead to 3-1.
Fighting for the win through a torrential downpour, Missouri battled not only the Northwestern squad but the weather and field conditions as well. The grass turf quickly became soaked with rain reducing ball mobility and greatly compromising the player's footwork. Despite the impediments however, the Tigers picked up a well-earned and muddy victory.
Both teams fought through the first half learning to battle the sodden elements. After a slippery start, frustration proved to be a welcome catalyst in the second period as Mizzou finally capitalized on one of its many scoring attempts.
Jennifer Nobis put the Tigers on the board with a well-placed header launched from a cornerkick by Karen Bauer. Although thwarting the game, the thick water proved to be no match for the classic combination.
In convention with their trademark blue-collar ethic, the Tigers refused to let up in the match despite their lead and put in a second goal late in the game. Midfielder Lauren Grice served a ball to forward Kristen Heil who was able to dribble through the Northwestern defensive line. With Heil advancing on the Wildcat box, goalkeeper Whitney Jones rushed an attack and slipped out of range allowing Heil to sink an unhindered goal.
In addition to Missouri forwards making waves in the game, Mizzou goalkeeper Stephanie Krawczyk played an impressive game amidst the soggy elements. The senior earned her first shutout of the year making five saves, including two harrowing blocks late in the game. She made a tremendous kick save going one-on-one against a Northwestern forward and came back to pull down a huge diving save with just 32 seconds left to ensure the Tiger victory.
Tigers in the Big 12
Competing in one of the nation's strongest conferences, Missouri keeps pace with the pack winning its first pair of games. In just two matches however, the Tigers already top the league tying Oklahoma State and Nebraska as the only three teams with a perfect 0.00 goals against average and two shutout victories. The Mizzou defensive staff is also leading the field allowing just eight shots on goal.
Nobis Notables
Sophomore Jennifer Nobis tore into the 2003 season scoring two goals and dishing out an assist to help the Tigers to a 2-0 record. Facing Iowa, Nobis assisted Shea Swoboda scoring the Tiger's game-winner before coming back to contribute a goal of her own to leave the game with a 3-0 victory. In her second game, Nobis headed in the game-winner on a well-placed corner kick launched by Karen Bauer.
Nobis leads the Tigers with five points from two goals and one assist. She also tops the team taking 11 shots, including eight on goal and owns one game-winning goal and assist on the year. In the Big 12 Conference, Nobis' marks rank her second in the league in shots and shots per game and fourth in goals and points per game.
The Dish on Duncan
Splitting time with fellow senior Stephanie Krawczyk in the goalbox, keeper Megan Duncan opened the 2003 season with a 3-0 shutout victory against Iowa boosting her career and Mizzou record to 11. In 90 minutes against the Hawkeyes, Duncan made three saves.
The Corner on Krawczyk
Anchoring the Tigers' second game, Stephanie Krawczyk had a brilliant game making several key saves despite the inclement weather. Earning her first shutout of the year with a 2-0 deadlock against Northwestern, Krawczyk made five saves.
Mizzou Scoring
In addition to Nobis' stellar opening, juniors Shea Swoboda, Missy Peabody and Kristen Heil each opened the year scoring goals. Swoboda and Peabody slipped goals past Iowa, while Heil scored against Northwestern. Aiding the diversity of Missouri's scoring squad, four additional Tigers exerted their offensive mettle in Mizzou's opening matches as Ashley Gibbs, Amber Swinehart, Karen Bauer and Lauren Grice aided the Tigers with assists.
Newcomers to Watch
Playing influential minutes during the 2003 season, freshmen Aria Hudetz and Elyse Nikonchuk began their Missouri careers starting for the Tigers. Hudetz played valuable minutes in the midfield, while Nikonchuk played a key role as Mizzou's swing-player in the half and back field.
Also coming in for the Tigers', Margaret Malm and Lauren Grice both saw action early in the year. Bolstering the midfield lines, the athletes provided a rejuvenating boost to Missouri's game.