Sept. 28, 2006
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COLUMBIA, Mo. - Now into the heart of its Big 12 Conference schedule, the No. 17 Missouri soccer team starts the second half of its season with games against two league opponents this weekend. The Tigers begin with Texas Tech on Friday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. and conclude the weekend with Baylor on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. Both contests will be played at Audrey J. Walton Stadium.
Tigers in the rankings
For the fifth consecutive week, the Tigers find themselves ranked in a number of national polls. SoccerBuzz and Soccer Times both have Mizzou at No. 17 this week despite a loss to unranked Nebraska on Friday, Sept. 22. The National Soccer Coaches Association of America dropped Missouri from its rankings this week and the Tigers are not ranked by Soccer America for the second straight week.
In addition to the national rankings, SoccerBuzz lists Missouri fourth in the Central Region and the NSCAA has the Tigers in ninth.
Last time out
Mizzou kicked off Big 12 Conference play with a contest against Nebraska on Friday, Sept. 22 at Walton Stadium. The Huskers went up 1-0 after an own goal in the fifth minute and added to their lead with another goal in the 18th minute.
Despite to 2-0 deficit, Missouri fought back and dominated the remaining 72 minutes of play. The Tigers had numerous scoring chances in the second half, evidenced by a 14-3 shot advantage but failed to convert on their opportunities.
The Tigers bounced back from their two consecutive losses with a hard fought 3-2 overtime victory against Illinois State on Sunday, Sept. 24. After falling behind 1-0 early in the second half, senior Elyse Nikonchuk headed in a corner kick from senior Aria Hudetz to tie the game at 1-1.
The Redbirds went on top again early in the second half but sophomore Janelle Cordia responded one minute later with her fourth goal of the year for a 2-2 game. The score held up until sophomore Mo Redmond converted a penalty kick in overtime to give Mizzou the victory.
Mizzou regains scoring touch
After starting the season with 20 goals in seven games, the Tiger offense went silent in the team's losses to UW-Milwaukee and Nebraska. Missouri finally found the back of the net in the 35th mintue against Illinois State on Sept. 24 to halt a scoreless streak that spanned 256:33.
Spreading the offense
Before the season started, no one was sure who would carry the offensive load. Now 10 games into 2006, the answer is simple: everyone. Eight different Tigers have scored so far and five players have at least three goals. The statistic is especially impressive because only four Tigers scored at least three goals all of last season.
Let's get it started
In Mizzou's 10 games this year, the Tigers are a perfect 7-0 when the squad scores first. Missouri tallied wins over Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern, Minnesota, Northwestern State and Loyola-Chicago when the team found the back of the net first. Mizzou's only come from behind win so far was a 3-2 overtime victory against Illinois State.
Second half's the charm
Opponents have held Mizzou scoreless in the second half only twice this season but both those games had similar results -- Tiger losses. Missouri could not convert in its scoring chances in the final 45 minutes against UW-Milwaukee and Nebraska for 1-0 and 2-0 defeats, respectively.
Overtime lucky once again
The match with Illinois State on Sept. 24 was Missouri's first overtime game this season and the first overtime win for a Tiger squad since a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Oklahoma exactly two years prior. Mizzou played four overtimes games in 2005 with a 0-1-3 record.
Tigers post best start ever
The Tigers seven consecutive wins to start 2006 marks the best start in program history. 1999 marks the best season in program history after Mizzou finished 14-8-1 (.630) after a 12-6-1 (.658) regular season. With nine games left in the regular season and postseason opportunites, the 8-2 Tigers are certainly capable improving on 1999's record.
Quick goal
Sophomore Janelle Cordia's goal 44 seconds into Mizzou's 3-0 win over Northwestern State on Sept. 8 was the fastest goal scored in Missouri history. The previous record was 1:17, which former Tigers Amber Swinehart and Sarah Sallee both accomplished. Sallee set the previous record against Illinois on Sept. 12, 1999 while Swinehart repeated the feat against Oklahoma State on Oct. 14, 2002.
Shutout streak halted
The Tigers began the 2006 campaign with consecutive shutouts over Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern, Minnesota and Northwestern State before yielding two goals to Loyola-Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 10. The five consecutive shutouts set a new Tiger record.
Scouting Texas Tech
Only 10 games into its season, Texas Tech has already quadrupled their win total from last year with a 4-6 record. After only one win a year ago, the Red Raiders have wins over Texas-San Antonio (2-0), TCU (2-0), Prairie View A&M (10-0) and Northwestern State (3-0). Texas Tech is 0-2 in Big 12 play with a 2-0 loss to Texas and a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Texas A&M.
The Red Raiders are lead by Brittney Harrison and Chessa Purser, who each have five goals on the season. Shanna Brown is the third-leading scorer with three goals and Maegan Wilber has two.
Tina Rincon was the starting goalie in nine of Texas Tech's games and has a 1.62 goals against average and a .795 save percentage. Freshman Colleen Pitts started the Red Raider's last game and has a 1.84 goals against average and a .692 save percentage.
Series Record: MU leads 7-5
Last Meeting: MU 4, TTU 1 (2005)
Scouting Baylor
The Baylor Bears are 3-6-1 on the season with wins over Northwestern State (1-0), Texas-San Antonio (1-0) and Samford (1-0). The Bears had a tough schedule to start the season and four of their six losses were against ranked opponents. On the season, Baylor has tallied only five goals in its 10 games and has allowed 17.
Anna Schuch has four of the Bears five goals in 2006 while Missy McConnell also has a goal. Goalie Ashley Holder has played every minute in net for Baylor and carries a 1.66 goals against average and a .754 save percentage. The junior was selected the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19 after recording consecutive shutouts.
Series Record: MU leads 7-5
Last Meeting: MU 2, BU 1 (2005)
Tigers honored by Big 12
Freshman Kristin Andrighetto was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Tuesday, thanks to her game-winning goal against Wisconsin on Sept. 15. Andrighetto is the second Tiger this season to earn a Big 12 honor, after sophomore Ashley Hamblin was the Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 29.
Tigers in the Big 12
Eight games in to the season, several Tigers are statistically ranked among the leaders of the conference.
Ashley Hamblin is tied for second in assists (five) and assists per game (0.56), is fourth in points (15), points per game (1.67), tied for fourth in goals (five) and fifth in goals per game (0.56). Sophomore Janelle Cordia is tied for second in game-winning goals (two) and tied for seventh in goals (four). Freshman Kristin Andrighetto is tied for second in game-winning goals (two) and third in shots (37) and shots per game (3.7). Senior Elyse Nikonchuk is fourth in shots (36) and fifth in shots per game (3.6) while freshman Breanna Thornton is tied for seventh in goals (four).
In goalkeeping statistics, sophomore Mallory Forst leads the league in shutouts (four) and shutouts per game (0.40) and is second in goals against average (0.80).
National attention
Ashley Hamblin turned a lot of heads around the county after her three goal, two assist opening weekend against Iowa and No. 13 Illinois. For her effort, Hamblin was named the SoccerTimes.com National Player of the Week and earned spots on the Soccer Buzz Elite and Soccer American National teams of the week. Additionally, the Big 12 chose her as its Offensive Player of the Week.
Not to be outdone, freshman Crystal Wagner was named to the SoccerBuzz Elite Team of the Week last week for her help in Mizzou's shutout victories over Northwestern (4-0) and Minnesota (1-0). Wagner was a part of the Tiger defense that tied and eventually broke the team record for consecutive shutouts (five).
Offensive Explosion
The seven goals Missouri scored against Iowa and Illinois was the most goals the program has scored in the season's opening weekend since 1999. That season, the Tigers also scored seven goals against Duke (2-1 loss) and Colorado (6-2 win).
The most goals Mizzou has scored in its first two games is nine, which it accomplished in 1998 after a 4-2 loss to Northwestern and a 7-0 win over Loyola. 1999 and 1998 also represent to most prolific scoring years in program history. The record for goals in a season is 61 set in 1999, followed closely behind with 58 in 1998.
Tigers in the WPSL
Current Tigers Janelle Cordia, Ashley Hamblin, Aria Hudetz, Meghan Pfeiffer, Mo Redmond, Maddie Senkosky and Kat Tar and former Tiger Jennifer Nobis all played in the Women's Premier Soccer League in the summer of 2006.
Cordia, Hamblin, Pfeiffer, Redmond and Nobis played for River Cities FC (St. Louis) while Hudetz and Senkosky played for the Denver Diamonds.
Mark your calendars
The Missouri soccer team will hold its banquet on December 9, 2006. Festivities will start at 6:30 p.m. while the silent auction will begain at 5:45 p.m.