Sept. 4, 2007

Columbia, Mo. - COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's soccer team jumped into a few national women's soccer polls after defeating then-No. 20 Illinois Friday (Aug. 31) and Western Michigan Sunday (Sept. 2).

Mizzou earned their highest ranking of the week, 23rd, from SoccerTimes.com. The Tigers are ranked 25th in the Soccer America Women's Top-25 poll and 26th in the Soccer Buzz National Top-30 Rankings for the first week of the regular season. Additionally, the Tigers are ranked fifth in the Soccer Buzz Central Region Poll, and sixth the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas Central Region Rankings. The Tigers are also receiving votes in the NSCAA/adidas National Rankings.

Mizzou defeated then-No. 20 Illinois Friday (Aug. 31) in Champaign, Ill., behind the two-goal effort by Michelle Collins, who was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week Tuesday (Sept. 4). Monday (Sept. 3), she was selected to the TopDrawer National College Soccer Team of the Week.

Collins scored the first goal in Mizzou's 5-2 win over Western Michigan Sunday (Sept. 2) Kristin Andrighetto added two more to the one she scored on Friday to also give her three on the season.

This is the first time the program has been ranked in the top-30 since the end of September of 2006, when they were ranked as high as 17th by Soccer Buzz and SoccerTimes.com. Earlier in the 2006 season, Soccer America ranked Mizzou 10th as the Tigers got off to a 6-0 start, their best ever.

Here's a recap, with links and numbers:

Sept 4th polls

SoccerTimes.com: 23rd

http://soccertimes.com/ncaa/top25/women.htm

SoccerBuzz 26th (5th in Central)

http://soccerbuzz.com/2007rankings/rankings2007.htm

Soccer America: 25

http://socceramerica.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=23270

NSCAA/adidas: Receiving Votes in National (6th in Central)

http://nscaa.com/seniorRegion.php?it=381&dv=1&dt=20070904&gen=Women