Oct. 26, 2005

With the final game of the regular season slated for Friday against Kansas, seniors Jennifer Nobis and Kira Reyes realize their time as Missouri Tigers is coming to an end. With a win or an Oklahoma State loss or tie, Nobis, Reyes and the rest of the squad will extend the 2005 season and advance to next week's Big 12 Tournament in San Antonio. Only two days away from the Kansas game, Nobis and Reyes discuss the game and their time as Tigers

What's the team's mindset going into the game against Kansas on Friday?

Kira: We don't want to have to rely on what Oklahoma State does, so it's a must-win for us. We're going into the game thinking we have to win at all costs.

Jennie: We played so well on Sunday (against Colorado College) and we played together. That's in our mind, we want to do it for the team, we want to have fun and continue our team bond. It's a must-win right now.

Does it mean anything else because the game is against Kansas?

Kira: Of course there is always the Border War so there's always a little more emotion in that game than in others. Again, it's also a Big 12 game so it's going to be rough.

Jennie: Over the last few years since my freshman year, we've always come out saying, `this is Kansas, we have to beat Kansas.' We need to come out with the mindset that we're not playing Kansas but that it's a Big 12 game and we have to win to get to the Big 12 Tournament.

In 2003, the team went into the final regular season game in a must-win situation. You came from behind to win, qualified for the tournament and eventually made the championship game as an eighth seed. Do you see similarities between that squad and this team?

Jennie: Yeah, we've been in this situation before. I think this year we want to play for each other a lot more and not just go for that win. We definitely need a win but we want to do it for each other. Does that make sense, Kira?

Kira: Yeah, 2003 was an exciting year because we fought against the odds and we always came out on top. This year it looks like the same thing. We're currently ranked eighth and are surprising a lot of teams. As far as team chemistry is concerned, this is the best the team has been in a long time.

How has the program changed since you've been here?

Kira: As far as the components on the team, we've had new coaches and players come in with different personalities. I think we've done a lot to adjust our lineup as well. It's like any other team, you get new players every year and you have to adjust to find our weaknesses and strengths and play to our strengths.

Jennie: Mizzou has always had an awesome coaching staff but this year they've done so much extra to help us. Even in a game, they'll put new players in different areas, try new things and try to get the team's chemistry bond as close as they can with different players on the field. The best thing we have this year is the chemistry, they switch players from forward to midfield to try to get us to click. They're trying to get us to the point where we can be our best. Players change but our coaching staff has been excellent this year.

Kira: They've done a great job with passes, that's the biggest thing. We can definitely transition really quickly. We've also been more willing to switch on the fly than teams in the past. In the past, we were set in our ways and didn't want to change our lineup from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 but now we're willing to do it because we have confidence in our coaches and each other.

You're collegiate careers are rapidly coming to a close. Do you think about that a lot or try to push it out of your mind?

Jennie: I haven't even thought about it because we have so much confidence in this team and our coaching staff that we're going to pull it out this Friday. We are going to come together. We've already scheduled practice for Sunday. I know you're not supposed to look ahead but we have so much confidence in ourselves that we can grind it out this Friday. This team is probably the best team to do it in the last four years. I haven't thought about it and I don't want to think about it.

Kira: I tell you what, soccer is something that we've both played probably for 18 or 19 years. It will be weird to close that chapter but this is an exciting time and we hope to keep it going.

What do fellow seniors Erica Pusch and Amber Swinehart mean to the team and to you?

Jennie: It's crazy, the four of us have been together for so long. Coming in and not having any idea who you'd be with your freshman year and then having this bond all four years. They mean so much to this team, the program, to each one of us, the coaches, even the fans. There are so many fans that love Erica and Amber and make signs and cheer for them. They've built this program from day one. They're going to leave this team with so many memories and qualities that the team will have to step up and fill those holes. They're such amazing people and players.

Kira: They've done very well as captains. They've kept the morale up on the team and keep things organized. They're great mediators between the coaches and the players, which is so important. I've played with Erica and Jennie all my life both here and in St. Louis and it's funny how Amber just clicked right in.

Jennie: Kira, Erica and I have played together forever and having Amber come in and be so awesome with all three of us, this is probably the closest that seniors have ever been. It's going to be hard to leave this program knowing that it's not going to be us four anymore.

This year's team is a mixture of experienced veterans and newcomers. How has everyone come together?

Kira: We have a large freshman class, we have 10 freshman and only four seniors. For the veterans it's important to show leadership and set the standards for teammates. We always get freshman who come in and want to work hard, work their butts off because they want to make a good impression right away. We have a great combination of good leadership and hard workers.

Jennie: Also, our coaches were great this year about recruiting individuals who are not just good on the field but who can also help the team's chemistry. They don't go just for someone who is a good player, they look for personality and who can make the team better in practice and outside the game. The coaches picked some really good girls this year who connect with everyone.

Senior Day was on Sunday. What went through your mind when you walked out with your parents?

Jennie: I was ready to play. Everyone says that I'm like a guy. I have emotions but I don't show my emotions until it's done. It's sad but the season isn't over yet so I don't want to think about it.

Kira: I thought it was cool to walk out with my dad because he's been my mentor in soccer all my life. I felt very proud walking out with him. It was also cool that it was just us four with our families.

Jennie: It was so nice to have just `us four' time, just having us four together.

Kira: We had a senior moment last Friday night. It was our last Friday night game and we all got together, wrapped our arms around each other and looked at the field. It's starting to hit home.

What's your most memorable moment?

Jennie: I have so many. I think most are from practice, actually. We have fun at practice, running into the steel men, having moments when people are sprinting across the field and they fall out of nowhere. Those are the best moments because we have fun during practice.

Kira: This is something that the public doesn't see. We go out and play hard during games but we kick each other's butts in practice. Practice has really been a lot of fun. We learn a lot from other teams but we really learn the most from each other.

Jennie: Mizzou is one big happy family and I think we show that in practice, in games and off the field. As for games, our most memorable moment was beating Texas A&M last season in College Station with just 10 players. That game showed what Missouri soccer is all about. We never game up and everyone from the players to the coaches did their job.

Kira: Also, when we were the eighth seed in the Big 12 Tournament in 2003 and advanced to the championship game. That year, we proved who we were and how hard we work for what we want. Our sayings were `eight is great' and `earned, never given' because no matter what seed you are, you can achieve anything and we worked hard and earned everything we accomplished that season.

What are you plans after graduation?

Jennie: I will go to dental hygiene school. It would be an awesome dream to go on (with soccer) but once college soccer is done, you have your life and other things to worry about now. I'm ready to start dental school in Florida.

Kira: I'll be with the Air Force. I'm going to pilot training when I graduate, I'll fly an A-10.