Aug. 24, 2005
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Mizzou will open up its 10th season of soccer this weekend, with matchups against Arizona and California. The season opener against Arizona will kickoff at 8 p.m. CT on Friday in Tucson, Ariz. The Tigers will then face California on Sunday in Berkeley, Calif. Arizona is ranked No. 25 in the Soccer Buzz Preseason Poll and is coming off the 2004 season in which it won the Pac-10 Championship. Cal is ranked No. 19 and returns all 11 starters from last year's team which advanced to the NCAA Tournament. This season marks the 10th anniversary since soccer was added at Missouri. Ten letterwinners and seven starters return from last year's squad that finished 9-10-1.
QUICKLY
- 2005 will mark the 10th season of soccer at Mizzou. The Tigers are 93-90-6 in the first nine seasons.
- Missouri was 9-10-1 last year and finished 5-5 in the Big 12 Conference, placing sixth in the Big 12.
- Bryan Blitz enters his 10th season as the Tigers' head coach. He has compiled a 138-133-14 career record in 14 years as a head coach (at Butler and Missouri).
- Ten letterwinners, seven of which were starters, return from last year's squad.
- A group of 10 newcomers will join the Tigers in 2005.
- Mizzou has made the NCAA Tournament twice (1999 and 2003).
- MU was picked sixth in the Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll.
ABOUT ARIZONA
The Arizona Wildcats return 15 players from last year's Pac-10 Championship team, 10 of which started at least one match in 2004. Arizona is ranked No. 25 by Soccer Buzz and was picked to finish fourth in the Pac-10, according to the conference preseason poll. Eight newcomers join the 15 returners this season for the Wildcats.
MU vs. THE WILDCATS
Mizzou has faced Arizona just once in its 10-year history, defeating the Wildcats 3-1 in 2003.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA
The California Bears return all 11 starters from last year's team which qualified for the NCAA Tournament. It was their sixth trip to the postseason in the last seven years. Cal returns four All-Pac 10 honorees this season in sophomores Courtney Hooker, Stephanie Wieger and Chioma Igwe and junior Nadia Al-Lami.
MU vs. THE BEARS
The Tigers have split their two previous games against California. Missouri lost a 2-1 game in overtime in 2000 and defeated the Bears 1-0 in 2003.
SEASON OPENERS
Mizzou carries a five-game winning steak in season openers into this weekend. The Tigers dropped their first four season openers from 1996-99, but have won all five since. Last year, Mizzou defeated Northwestern 2-1 in overtime to open the season.
ON THE 2005 SCHEDULE
After opening the season with games at Arizona and California, the Tigers will open their home portion of the schedule next weekend with the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge. MU will take on Indiana at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2 at Walton Stadium, followed by a game against Purdue at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4. Missouri also has non-conference matchups with Arkansas State, Iowa, North Dakota State, Charleston, Cal Poly and Colorado College to go along with its Big 12 Conference schedule.
BIG 12 CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
Mizzou was selected to finish sixth in the Big 12 Conference, according to the Big 12 Coaches' Preseason Poll. Texas A&M was picked to win the conference title. MU midfielder Elyse Nikonchuk was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Team, as selected by the conference coaches.
THE TIGERS 2004 RECAP
Some highlights from the 2004 season...
- Mizzou finished the 2004 season with a 9-10-1 record going 5-5-0 in Big 12 Conference play to finish sixth in league standings.
-Four Tigers were named to the All-Big 12 team. Defenders Ashley Gibbs and Erica Pusch joined midfielder Elyse Nikonchuk and forward Jennifer Nobis earning second team recognition.
- MU defeated two ranked teams in 2004, with victories over No. 23 Colorado and No. 6 Texas A&M.
- Kicking off the year with a 1-1 record, the Tigers opened their fifth-straight season with a win, including their second-consecutive season opening victory on the road.
- Nine of Missouri's starting field players contributed either a goal or an assist during the Tigers 20 games this season.
- Defender Karen Bauer received Defensive Big 12 Player of the Week recognition after helping the Tigers to a 5-2 victory over Alabama A&M contributing an assist and a penalty.
- Seven Mizzou players were named to the Academic All-Big First Team including: Karen Bauer, Lauren Grice, Kristen Heil, Aria Hudetz, Meggie Malm, Lacy Moore and Erica Pusch.
- Junior Jennifer Nobis and sophomore Elyse Nikonchuk were named to the SoccerBuzz All-Central Region Third Team.