April 5, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri soccer team continues its spring schedule with matchups against Marquette on Saturday, April 8 and the full Canadian National Team on Tuesday, April 11. So far this spring, the Tigers hold a 1-1 record, including a 2-1 win over Memphis on March 19.
Highlighting the spring schedule, the full Canadian National Team comes to town on Tuesday, April 11 at 7 p.m. CT in Missouri's fourth game of the spring season at Walton Stadium. The Tigers will face a squad boasting a slew of current and former athletes who played collegiate soccer in the U.S., including six current and former Nebraska players and two-time Missouri Athletic Club Herman Trophy winner Christine Sinclair from Portland.
The Canadians finished an impressive fourth at the 2003 World Cup and are 12th in the current world rankings. The two squads were supposed to play an exhibition game prior to the 2005 fall season but a scheduling conflict postponed the contest until the spring season.
It's an honor for our program to play the Canadian National Team," said head coach Bryan Blitz. "They're a world-class team and are certainly one of the better teams in the world. It's an unbelievable measuring stick to see where we are as a program and where we need to go."
Before the contest with the Canadians, Mizzou will travel to Maryland Heights, Mo., to face Marquette on Saturday, April 8 at 1:30 p.m. CDT at Sportport. Marquette is coming off its best season after advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. The Golden Eagles fell to UCLA to close out their season but ended the year ranked No. 14 with a 19-4-1 mark.
"We're looking forward to the Marquette game because they did so well last year and returned all their players," said Blitz. "That game will put is in the right mindset by playing one of the better teams in the country."
Following the game against the Canadian National Team, the Tigers will square off against Missouri State on April 21 at Liberty High School in Kansas City, Mo., at 7 p.m. CT.
All Missouri spring soccer games are free and open to the public. For more information, call the Tiger soccer office at (573) 882-7951.