Oct. 5, 2005
COLUMBIA, Mo.-- The Tigers return home to Walton Stadium this weekend for conference games against two of the Big 12's best. On Friday, Oct. 7, come out to help the Tigers break the all-time attendance record as Missouri takes on the 11-1 Oklahoma Sooners at 7:00 p.m. Then on Sunday, Oct. 9, Oklahoma State, 9-1-2 on the season, invades Walton Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. contest against the Tigers.
LAST WEEK After opening Big 12 Conference play at home, the Tigers hit the road last weekend for matchups against Iowa State in Ames, Iowa and Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. On Sept. 30, Missouri recorded a 1-1 double-overtime tie with the Iowa State Cyclones. Trailing 1-0 in the 77th minute, senior Jennifer Nobis found freshman Ashley Hamblin, who dribbled into the box and sent a shot past the Cyclone keeper and into the upper left netting. The 1-1 score held up through two overtimes as neither team managed to capitalize on their scoring chances.
Missouri returned to the field on Sunday, Oct. 2 and fell 3-0 to a tough Nebraska team, then ranked No. 25. The Tigers ceeded a goal just four minutes into the game and trailed 2-0 at the end of the first half. Despite five saves in the game by sophomore keeper Laura Buehrig, the Huskers added another tally in the second half.
HOME COOKIN' The Tigers return home to Walton Stadium where the team is 5-2 on the season. At home this season, Missouri averages 2.29 goals and 22 shots per game against the opposition's 0.86 goals and 12.3 shots per game. Conversely, the Tigers are 1-2-2 on and average only 1.1 goals and 15 shots per game on the road in 2005. Of the team's 22 goals this season, 16 have come in the comfy confines of Walton Stadium.
LEADING THE WAY Senior forward Jennifer Nobis officially ranks 11th nationally in assists per game. However, Nobis was credited with an assist in the Sept. 30 1-1 tie against Iowa State after stats were compiled, so she would rank seventh with her 0.73 assists per game.
Three Tigers also find themselves ranked in the top five in Big 12 Conference statistics, as of Oct. 3. Nobis ranks second in total assists (eight) and assists per game (.730) and fourth in total shots (54) and shots per game (4.91). Senior Amber Swinehart is tied for first in game-winning goals (four) and ied for fourth in total goals (six) and sophomore goalie Laura Buehrig ranks second in saves per game (4.67), third in total saves (56) and fourth in save percentage (.824).
RECORD WATCH As of Oct. 4, four Tigers find themselves ranked in the top 10 in Missouri's career recordbook. Senior Jennifer Nobis ranks third in game-winning goals (nine), shots (223) and shots on goal (106), fourth in points (78) and tied for fourth in assists (22) and fifth in goals (28). Senior Amber Swinehart is sixth in game-winning goals (five), eighth in shots (114) and ninth in shots on goal (51). Senior Erica Pusch is eighth in shot on goal percentage (.538) and ninth in games started (67), junior Aria Hudetz ranks 10th in shot on goal percentage (.518) and sophomore goalkeeper Laura Buehrig finds herself ranked second in goals against average (1.32), third in wins (13) and minutes in goal (2661:15), tied for third in shutouts (five), fourth in games played in goal (30), tied for fourth in games started in goal (30) and ranks fifth in saves (127) and winning percentage (.500).
ABOUT OKLAHOMA Oklahoma is an i mpressive 11-1 on the season and 3-0 in Big 12 play heading into the Oct. 7 matchup with Missouri. The only blemish on the Sooners' record is a 2-0 loss to Wisconsin in the Big 12/Big 10 Challenge on Sept. 2. Three of Oklahoma's wins have come in overtime, including a 2-1 win over Colorado on Oct. 2. On the season, the Sooners have also defeated St. Louis, Arkansas, Iowa, Western Michigan, East Carolina, Tulsa, Oral Roberts, Texas State, Texas and Texas Tech.
The Sooners average 2.34 goals per game, which ranks second in the Big 12. With six goals, junior Savannah Scott leads a squad that has five players who have scored at least three goals in 2005. Sophomore goalie Jennifer Nichols has played every minute in goal during the season and posts a .844 save percentage and a 0.57 goal against average.
MU vs. THE SOONERS Missouri has won five-of-eight matchups with Oklahoma, indluing a 2-1 overtime victory over the Sooners in 2004.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE The Cowgirls have a 9-1-2 record on the season and stand at 2-1 in the Big 12 standings. Oklahoma State's biggest win of the season came against then-No. 21 Texas on Sept. 23 as the Cowgirls put away the Longhorns 2-0. Oklahoma State also defeated Texas State, Arkansas State, Arkansas-Little Rock, McNeese State, Louisiana-Layfayette, Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Texas Tech. The Cowgirls fell to Colorado 1-0 on Sept. 30 and recorded ties against Iowa and Wisconsin.
The Cowgirls have the eigth-best scoring offense in the country with 3.33 goals per game. Their offense starts with junior Jesyca Rosholt, whose 27 points on 11 goals and five assists ranks 20th in the country. In goal for Oklahoma State, junior Jeanne Rankin ranks ninth in the nation with a 0.31 goal against average and has a .867 save percentage on the season.
MU vs. THE COWGIRLS The Tigers own a 7-2-1 record over the Cowgirls in the teams' history. After winning the first seven games against Oklahoma State, Missouri is 1-2-1 in the last four years, including a 3-1 loss in Stillwater, Okla. last season.
STILL AHEAD Missouri hits the road next weekend with matchups against Colorado and Texas Tech before returning home the following weekend for games against Texas and non-conference foe Colorado College, followed by a trip to Kansas to close out the regular season.