Nov. 2, 2004
Big 12 Tournament History
Last season, the Tigers made history advancing to the Big 12 Championship final after defeating #1 seeded Colorado (2-0) marking the first time a #8 seed had won a Big 12 Tournament game. In the second round, the Tigers dropped the Huskers 3-2 to claim Missouri's first program victory over Nebraska. The Tigers' whirlwind tournament came to a close with a 3-2 double overtime loss to Oklahoma State in the championship final.
As Big 12 Champion runner-up, Missouri had five athletes named to the All-Big 12 Tournament team: Erica Pusch, Karen Bauer, Elyse Nikonchuk, Kristen Heil and Melissa Peabody were each honored.
Weekend Recap
Rounding out the 2004 regular season, the Tigers brought their record back to .500 claiming a 5-2 victory over Alabama A&M. The Mizzou senior class led the way scoring three of the Tigers' goals and all three Missouri assists.
Kristen Heil led the team scoring a goal and two assists in the game extending her multi-point scoring streak to three games. Karen Bauer also plotted milestones scoring her second penalty kick of the year to extend her career record to a perfect 6-of-6 mark. Additionally, Bauer scored her fifth assist of the season on a cornerkick.
Tiger Highlights
* Earning post-season recognition, four Tigers have been named to the All-Big 12 team. Defenders Ashley Gibbs and Erica Pusch join midfielder Elyse Nikonchuk and forward Jennifer Nobis each earned second team recognition.
* Topping Baylor 3-2, Missouri extended its win streak over the Bears to four consecutive games dating back to the 2001 season. The victory boosts the Tigers to lead the MU-BU series 6-5.
* Defeating #6 Texas A&M, the Tigers earned their second victory over an opponent ranked in the Top 25 this season. The win also marks the first time Mizzou has defeated the Aggies in College Station, Texas.
* Defeating then #23 Colorado, the Tigers picked up their second consecutive victory over the 2003 Big 12 Conference champions. After falling to the Buffs (3-2) during regular season play last year, the Tigers came back to defeat Colorado 2-0 in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. Mizzou's 1-0 victory over the Buffs this season marks Missouri's second shutout victory of the year.
* Mizzou's 2-1 overtime victory against Oklahoma marks the first time a Missouri team has defeated the Sooners in Norman. The victory brings the Tiger's series record against OU to 5-3. The Tigers out shot the Sooners 20-to-6 during the game, and kept Oklahoma from taking a single shot during overtime play.
* Opening the year with a 1-1 record, the Tigers have opened their fifth straight season with a win, including their second consecutive season opening victory on the road.
* Missouri is out shooting its opponents an average of 17.6-to-11.9 shots per game. The Tigers have outshot 12 of their 19 opponents. P Defenders Karen Bauer, Elyse Nikonchuk, Lacy Moore, Ashley Gibbs, Lauren Grice and Erica Pusch have together supplied 25 of Mizzou's 84 points. Tiger halfbacks have scored six of the Tigers' 29 goals and 13-of-26 assists on the year.
* Nine of Missouri's starting field players have contributed either a goal or an assist during the Tigers 19 games this season.
* In Big 12 Conference standings, the Tigers rank fourth in shots taken during the season (315). The Tigers have averaged 17.10 shots per game against league opponents to rank third in shots taken during Big 12 play.
* The Tigers have scored 15 goals and 16 assists to record 63 percent of its season scoring against Big 12 opponents. Mizzou ranks sixth in points scored with a 4.50 points per game average against league competitors.