Sept. 7, 2006

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri freshman defender Crystal Wagner becomes the second Tiger in as many weeks named to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week, announced on Wednesday. Wagner, who joins sophomore Ashley Hamblin as Missouri players honored by Soccer Buzz, helped the Mizzou defense to shutout victories over Northwestern and Minnesota over the weekend.

As a starter in each of Missouri's four games, Wagner has played 351 of a possible 360 minutes this season as a central defender. The freshman helped Mizzou post a record fourth-consecutive shutout in a 1-0 win at Minnesota on Sunday, Sept. 3.

Wagner is now the fifth Tiger to earn Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the week honors, joining Megan Duncan and Lacy Moore in 2002, Melissa Peabody in 2003 and Hamblin this season.

The Tiger defense has yet to yield a goal this season and is tied for first nationally in goals against average (0.0), shutout percentage (1.0), win-loss-tie percentage (1.0) and save percentage (1.0). Mizzou also ranks 23rd nationally in scoring offense (3.0).

Missouri returns home to Walton Stadium this weekend for non-conference games against Northwestern State on Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. and Loyola-Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m.

Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week
M: Yael Averbuch (North Carolina)
GK: Karen Bardsley (Cal State Fullerton
D: Kira Bilecky (Purdue)
F: Kelsey Carpenter (Texas)
D: Mary Castelanelli (UCLA)
F: Amanda Cinalli (Notre Dame)
F: Lindsay Gladhill (Gardner-Webb)
D: Jenny Jeffers (Tennessee)
GK: Angie Larson (Fresno State)
M: Laura Mann (Denver)
F: Nikki Marshall (Colorado)
D: Nicole Moore (East Carolina)
GK: Dianna Pfenninger (Texas)
F: Megan Rapinoe (Portland)
M: Shari Summers (Stanford)
M: Brittany Taylor (Connecticut)
D: Crystal Wagner (Missouri)
M: Emily Wynne (Pepperdine)