Oct. 19, 2006
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COLUMBIA, Mo. - After concluding the home portion of the 2006 schedule, the Tigers hit the road for road contests against a pair of nationally ranked foes this weekend. On Friday, Oct. 20, Mizzou faces off against No. 14 Texas in Austin, Texas, at 7 p.m. The Tigers then travel south for a 12 p.m. game against No. 8 Texas A&M in College, Station, Texas on Sunday, Oct. 22.
The Tigers then head to Ames, Iowa, next Friday, October 27 to close out the regular season against Iowa State at 7 p.m.
Live stats for Friday's game with Texas will be available at: http://live.texassports.com/2006/soccer/game/
Last time out
The Tigers improved to 2-1 against ranked opponents with an impressive 3-0 victory over No. 25 Colorado on Friday, Oct. 13 at Walton Stadium. The two squads remained scoreless until freshman Kristin Andrighetto gathered a loose ball in the box and gave Mizzou a 1-0 advantage in the 56th minute. Senior Lauren Grice put Missouri up 2-0 on her first career goal in the 76th minute off an assist from Breanna Thornton and Andrighetto and junior Maddie Senkosky found Thornton for the Tiger's third and final goal in the 83rd minute. The goals by Andrighetto and Thornton were each player's team-leading fifth of the season.
Sophomore goalie Jessica Lewis earned the shutout in her first career start and recorded four saves in the game.
Mizzou followed its first Big 12 win with a tough 4-0 loss to Kansas on Sunday, Oct. 15 on Senior Day. The Jayhawks got on the board in the seventh minute when a Kansas player got a rebound from a blocked shot and one-timed the ball past sophomore goalie Jessica Lewis. Kansas added goals in the 19th, 50th and 85th minute to give the squad the win.
Prior to the game, Missouri's four seniors -- Lauren Grice, Aria Hudetz, Meggie Malm and Elyse Nikonchuk -- were honored for their contribution to the Mizzou program.
Now or never
With only three games left in the regular season, the Tigers need to make a move for a chance to qualify for the Big 12 Tournament. Mizzou currently sits in last place with one three points and four points behind eight-place Colorado. As only the top eight teams qualify for the tournament, Missouri needs at least a win and a tie and multiple losses by Colorado, Baylor and Texas Tech to qualify. The challenge is even more daunting considering two of the three remaining games are against No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 14 Texas.
Offense by committee
Before the season started, no one was sure who would carry the offensive load. Now 10 games into 2006, the answer is simple: everyone. Nine different Tigers have scored so far and six players have at least three goals. The statistic is especially important becuase Ashley Hamblin, the Tigers' leading scorer will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Last season, four Tigers scored at least three goals all year.
Fabulous Freshmen
Entering the 2006 season, Head Coach Bryan Blitz expected his newcomers to contribute immediately, based on their ranking as the 44th best recruiting class in the nation. With only three games left, the freshmen have lived up to their high expectations. As a class, the five newcomers represent almost 40 percent of the teams 86 total points.
Breanna Thornton is second on the squad with 13 points on five goals and three assists and Kristin Andrighetto is third with 12 points on five goals and one assist. Michelle Collins has five points (one goal, three assists) Bianca Pritchett has four points (one goal, two assists) and Crystal Wagner has one.
Let's get it started
In Mizzou's 16 games this year, the Tigers are a perfect 8-0 when the squad scores first. Missouri tallied wins over Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern, Minnesota, Northwestern State, Loyola-Chicago and Colorado 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.
The 3-0 win against Colorado on Oct. 13 was the first time since the Wisconsin game on Sept. 15 that the Tigers got on the scoreboard first, ending a seven game stretch.
Second half's the charm
Opponents have held Mizzou scoreless in the second half six times this season but all those games had similar results -- Tiger losses. Missouri could not convert in its scoring chances in the final 45 minutes against UW-Milwaukee, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Kansas, as the squad lost all six games. The only game Mizzou scored in the second half and still lost was Oklahoma's 3-2 win on Oct. 6. Missouri scored both its goal in the second half but the Sooners came away with the win.
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 No. 14 Texas
The Longhorns have a 12-3-1 record overall and stand third in the Big 12 at 5-1-1. Earlier in the season, Texas picked up an impressive win over No. 3 Penn State. All three of the team's losses were 1-0 games and came at the hands of Auburn, Rice and Oklahoma State.
The team is lead by Kelsey Carpenter's 24 points on 10 goals and four assists. Carrie Schmit is second on the squad with 15 points on five goals and five assists and Amy Burlingham has 12 points on four goals and four assists. Dianna Pfenninger has started all but one game in net this season and has a .712 save percentage and a 1.04 goals against average.
Series Record: UT leads 8-2-1
Last Meeting: UT 4, MU 1 (2005)
Scouting No. 8 Texas A&M
The Texas A&M Aggies enter their matchup with Mizzou as the only undefeated squad in the Big 12 and a 11-3-1 overall mark. Texas A&M's three losses came at the hands of No. 3 UCLA, No. 3 Santa Clara and No. 25 Cal State Fullerton. So far, the Aggies season is highlighted by a dramatic 1-0 overtime win over No. 3 North Carolina.
Senior Suzzette Devloo paces the Aggies with eight goals for 16 points on the season while Amber Gnatzig and Ashlee Pistorius have 12 points apiece on five goals, two assists and four goals, four assists, respectively. Freshman goalie Kristin Arnold has started all but one game this season and posts a 0.69 goals against average and a .845 save percentage. The newcomer has been named the big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2006.
Series Record: TAM leads 8-3
Last Meeting: TAM 3, MU 1 (Big 12 Tournament) (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.
Hamblin garners 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.
Wagner named to national team 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).
Soccer great now MU Hall of Famer
Former Tiger great Nikki Thole was selected to the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2006. Thole, the most decorated player in program history, is the first Tiger soccer player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The All-American tops the Mizzou recordbooks in a number of categories, including points (155) and goals (61).
The induction dinner will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12 at the Courtyard by Marriott.
Mark your calendars
The Missouri soccer team will hold its annual banquet on December 9, 2006. Festivities will start at 6:30 p.m. while the silent auction will begin at 5:45 p.m.