Sept. 2, 2005

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BIG 12/BIG TEN CHALLENGE Missouri opens up the home portion of its 2005 schedule with matches against Indiana and Purdue as part of the first-ever women's soccer Big 12/Big Ten Challenge. Seven other Big 12 schools also will take part in the event: Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

After a loss to #25 Arizona and a tie with #17 California last weekend, the Tigers seek their first win of the season against Indiana (0-1-1) or Purdue (1-1). Mizzou also seeks to score its fi rst goal of the season after failing to find the back of the net in its first two games.

The Tigers return 10 letterwinners and seven starters from last season's squad that finished 9-10-1, including 2004 All-Big 12 second team selections, seniors Jennifer Nobis and Erica Pusch and junior Elyse Nikonchuk. Nikonchuk is also a 2005 preseason All-Big 12 honoree.

LAST TIME OUT Facing its second ranked opponent in three days, Mizzou posted a tough 0-0 doubleovertime tie against #17 California on Aug. 28. Sophomore keeper Laura Buehrig, who had five saves on the day, posted the third shut out of her career.

Missouri opened the 2005 season on the road with a 2-0 loss to #25 Arizona on Aug. 26. With the loss, Missouri's five-game winning streak in season openers came to a halt. Six Tigers made their collegiate debut in the game, including sophomore Anne Baxter and freshmen Janelle Cordia, Ashley Hamblin, Caroline Pohl, Mo Redmond and Kat Tarr.

ABOUT INDIANA The Indiana Hoosiers come into the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge with a 0-1-1 record. After opening the season on Aug. 26 with a 0-0 tie against Loyola Marymount, the Hoosiers fell to USC 5-0 on Aug. 28.

MU vs. THE HOOSIERS The Tigers have split their two previous games against Indiana. Most recently, Missouri lost a 2-1 in double-overtime to the Hoosiers in the Tiger Invitational in 2002. Mizzou last beat Indiana in 1999 after recording a 2-1 victory.

ABOUT PURDUE The Pudrue Boilermakers, who return nine starters from last year's team, hold a 1-1 record in 2005. Purdue opened the season with a 1-0 loss to Cal Poly on Aug. 26 and picked up its fi rst win of the season with a 4-0 defeat of DePaul on Aug. 28.

MU vs. THE BOILERMAKERS The game on Sept. 4 marks the fourth meeting between Mizzou and Purdue, with the Boilermakers holding a slim 2-1 advantage. In the last matchup in 2003, the Tigers posted a 2-1 win over Purdue.

ON THE 2005 SCHEDULE After contests with Indiana and Purdue in the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge, Missouri next hosts non-conference foe Arkansas State on Sept. 8 and then heads to Iowa City for another non-conference matchup with Iowa on Sept. 8.

Also on the home schedule in 2005 are non-conference opponents North Dakota State, College of Charleston, Cal Poly and Colorado College, as well as Big 12 foes Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas. Mizzou will also travel to Iowa State, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas Tech and Kansas to round out Big 12 play.

QUICK NOTES - 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 38-133-14 career record in 14 years as a head coach (at Butler and Missouri). - MU was picked sixth in the Big 12 Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll. The coaches also selected junior Elyse Nikonchuk to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.

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 complete preseason poll and All-Big 12 preseason selections are below...

Big 12 Preseason Poll 1. Texas A&M 93 2. Nebraska (5) 92 3. Texas (1) 81 4. Kansas 74 5. Colorado 65 6. Missouri 52 7. Oklahoma State 51 8. Oklahoma 36 9. Iowa State 26 10. Baylor 18 11. Texas Tech 17

Preseason All-Big 12 Team GK: Joanna Haig Iowa State GK: Kati Jo Spisak Texas A&M D: Laura Munnelly Colorado D: Sasha Andrews Nebraska D: Tanya Dennis Nebraska MF: Fran Munnelly Colorado MF: Elyse Nikonchuk Missouri MF: Brittany Timko Nebraska MF: Carrie Berend Texas A&M F: Kelsey Carpenter Texas F: Caitlin Kennedy Texas F: Ashlee Pistorius Texas A&M

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 fi nish sixth in league standings. - Four Tigers were named to the All-Big 12 team. Defenders Ashley Gibbs and Erica Pusch joined midfi elder 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 Soccer-Buzz All-Central Region Third Team.