Sept. 4, 2007

Irving, Texas - University of Missouri sophomore forward Michelle Collins was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the first week of the season, the conference announced Tuesday. Wednesday, Soccer America named her to their Women's Team of the Week and Soccer Buzz selected Collins to their Elite National Team of the Week. Collins scored three goals on the weekend to propel the Tigers to a 2-0 start and a No. 23 ranking by SoccerTimes.

Collins scored three important goals on the weekend, including two in the Tigers' 3-1 win over 20th-ranked Illinois in Champaign, Friday (Aug. 31). She added to her total Sunday (Sept. 2), scoring the first goal of the Tigers' 5-2 victory over Western Michigan in Mizzou's home opener. With those three goals, Collins is tied with MU's Kristin Andrighetto, Oklahoma's Whitney Palmer and Texas A&M's Ashlee Pistorius for the Big 12 lead early in the season.

The two goals against Illinois came after the game was tied at 1-1 in the second half. About three minutes after Kristin Andrighetto scored the Tigers' first goal, Collins took a pass from Bree Thornton down the left side of the field and beat the goalkeeper from about 20 yards out. She added some insurance for Mizzou about four minutes later, when she took a ball that Alysha Bonnick shot off the post and put it in, securing the upset for the Tigers.

In her freshman season last year, Collins saw action in 17 games, including 10 starts. She scored one goal, and dished out three assists for a total of five points. She has already earned six points this season. Her three goals have come on only four shots.

This is her first career Big 12 Player of the Week award. Last season, two Tigers, Ashley Hamblin and Kristin Andrighetto, earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. Last year, Hamblin also earned the Tigers' only other Soccer America Team of the Week selection.

The Tigers are back in action this week as they play at Iowa Friday (Sept. 7) and host Eastern Illinois Sunday (Sept. 9).