Tigers Advance to the NCAA Tournament
11/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Nov. 10, 2003
Columbia, Mo.-After playing one of the nation's toughest schedules during the 2003 season, the Mizzou soccer team advances to the NCAA National Championship toting an 11-10-1 record.
Contending against the rigors of the Big 12 Conference and facing 11-of-21 opponents ranked in the top-25, Missouri's hard fought battle pushed the Tigers over the pack and into national championship contention.
Hosting the four-team Central Region seed, Mizzou welcomes #13 ranked Kansas, Illinois State and Eastern Illinois to Columbia, Mo., for the first and second rounds. on Friday, November 14 and Sunday, November 16.
Kansas is scheduled to take on Illinois State in the first round at 4:00 p.m., on Friday followed by a match-up between Missouri and Eastern Illinois at 7:00 p.m. The winners from the two games then face-off on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
After earning an eighth-place seed in the Big 12 Tournament last week, the Tigers stunned the league defeating #1 seeded Colorado 2-0 and #22 ranked Nebraska to advance to the championship game. Facing Oklahoma State, Missouri took the Cowgirls into double overtime before falling 3-2 with just one minute left in sudden-death play.
Backed by a tremendous Big 12 Tournament showing, the Tigers look to extend their momentum through the first round of NCAA regional play when they face Eastern Illinois on Friday. Missouri defeated EIU earlier in the year with a 3-2 overtime victory.
The Tiger's trip to the NCAA Tournament marks the second time Missouri has advanced to post-season play. Mizzou hosted the 1999 first and second round falling to Marquette in a 3-2 quadruple overtime heartbreaker.
