Aug. 4, 2006

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Several members of the Missouri soccer team recently completed successful seasons in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) in preparation for the Tigers' upcoming 2006 season. Gaining invaluable experience, the Tigers proved important contributors to their respective teams as the squads earned post-season berths.

Current Tigers Janelle Cordia (Columbia, Mo.), Ashley Hamblin (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Meghan Pfeiffer (Chesterfield, Mo.), Mo Redmond (Brownsburg, Ind.) and Kat Tarr (Vancouver, Wash.) joined former Mizzou player Jennifer Nobis on eventual league runner-up River Cities FC (St. Louis). Also playing this summer were senior Aria Hudetz (Fort Collins, Colo.) and junior Maddie Senkosky (Springfield, Mo.) for the Denver Diamonds.

In its first season in the WPSL, River Cities won the Midwest Conference with an 11-2-2 record and advanced to the league's final four. In the semifinal on July 28, the squad upset West Conference champions Ajax America 2-1 as Nobis notched a goal and an assist in the contest. River Cities fell to the Long Island Fury in the final as the Fury scored a goal in the 88th minute to claim the title. In recognition of their play in the final four, Nobis and Tarr earned All-Tournament Team honors.

Over the course of the season, Nobis was the offensive star of River Cities after compiling 12 goals in 15 games. Pfeiffer also picked up two goals on the season.

Hudetz and Senkosky played for the Denver Diamonds in the league's Southwest Conference. The team advanced to the first round of the playoffs before falling to the San Diego WFC Sea Lions, 1-0.

The WPSL is the highest level of women's soccer in the United States and rates as one of the top leagues in the world. The league's 39 teams use former professionals, post-collegiate, collegiate and high school players.