Sept. 5, 2007
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Columbia, Mo. -
Friday
(23) Missouri vs. Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
7 p.m.
Gametracker available:
http://hawkeyesports.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/sched/iowa-w-soccer-sched.html
Sunday
Eastern Illinois vs. (23) Missouri
1 p.m.
Columbia, Mo.
Radio Coverage: KCOU FM-Columbia
Commentators: Dieter Kurtenbach and TBA
Video Coverage: Mizzou All-Access
Gametracker Available: http://mutigers.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/sched/miss-w-soccer-sched.html
This Weekend
The 23rd-ranked Missouri Tigers look to stay undefeated, make it six in a row over Iowa and 11 in a row over the Big Ten when they play the Hawkeyes Friday (Sept. 7) in Iowa City. The team then returns home to host Eastern Illinois Sunday (Sept. 9) at 1 p.m. Sunday, as well as all remaining Sundays this fall are Dollar Days. Fans can get into the game for only $1. This Sunday, Tiger players will also host a free youth clinic after the game.
Getting Caught Up...
The Tigers won their first two games of the year, 3-1 over then-No. 20 Illinois in Champaign Friday (Aug. 31), and 5-2 over Western Michigan in Columbia Sunday (Sept. 2). That successful weekend gave Mizzou a No. 23 ranking in the SoccerTimes.com national poll. The Tigers were also ranked 25th and 26th in the Soccer America poll and the SoccerBuzz.com poll, respectively. The Tigers are also receiving votes in the NSCAA/adidas National Rankings. Mizzou is ranked fifth in the Soccer Buzz Central Region Poll, and sixth the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas Central Region Rankings. In addition to the team accomplishments, MU sophomore forward Michelle Collins was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. Collins was also named to the Soccer America Women's Team of the Week and the TopDrawer Soccer Women's Team of the Week, after scoring three goals on the weekend.
About Iowa
The Hawkeyes played to a 1-1 tie last Friday (Aug. 31) against Navy, and a 0-0 draw Sunday (Sept. 2) against Northern Illinois in the NIU Tournament. As previously mentioned, Iowa was picked to finish last in the Big Ten, which is where they finished last season with a 1-8-1 conference record. They finished the regular season with a 6-11-2 overall record. The Hawkeyes do return nine seniors and 20 letterwinners from last year's squad. Four of the seniors anchor the defense, as Sarah Stephenson, Claire Goldenberg, Abby Gierke and Megan Love all return. Last season's team Most Valuable Player, junior Kelsey Shaw, returns to the midfield in 2007. Shaw earned five points last year, and scored the Hawkeyes' only goal so far this season, Friday (Aug. 31) against Navy. Last season's leading point scorer, junior Stephanie Hynk (eight) comes into the game with one shot on goal so far this season.
Series
The Tigers own a 5-0 all-time record against Iowa. Last season, Mizzou defeated the Hawkeyes, 2-0, in Columbia, behind goals from Kristin Andrighetto and Iowa native Ashley Hamblin. Hamblin assisted on Andrighetto's goal, giving her three points on the night. The last time the Tigers were in Iowa City, Sept. 11, 2005, they took down Iowa, 5-0.
Big Ten Domination
The win against U of I was the Tigers' tenth in a row against the Big Ten. Last season, they earned five victories against the conference. In 2005, Mizzou went 3-0 against teams from the Big Ten, and MU went 2-2 against Big Ten squads in 2004. The Tigers have won 15 of their last 17 games against Big Ten opponents, dating back to 2002. All-time, Mizzou is 21-13 against the conference. Of their 21 wins, Mizzou has beaten Illinois (4 times), Iowa (5), Indiana (3), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Northwestern (3), Ohio State (1), Purdue (2) and Wisconsin (1). Among all Big Ten teams MU has played, they only trail in the all-time series against Michigan (2-1).
Sunday's Opponent: Eastern Illinois
The Eastern Illinois University Panthers are 2-1-0 after splitting two matches over the first weekend of action, and defeating Indiana State, 3-0, Wednesday (Sept. 5). The Panthers won the battle of "Easterns" Friday (Aug. 31) when they defeated Eastern Michigan, 3-1. Eastern Illinois scored all of their goals in the second half, as Michelle Steinhaus found the back of the net twice and Rachel Hamilton added insurance in the Panthers' win in Ypsilanti, Mich. EIU couldn't keep up the momentum as they traveled to Bowling Green, Ohio to face another Mid-American Conference team Sunday (Sept. 2). Bowling Green scored the first two goals, and Alexis Miller's goal in the 55th minute was the only Panthers score of the day. EIU's Kellie Floyd scored two goals and added an assist on the Panthers' third to help the team earn its second win of the year. Eastern was picked to finish fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference, behind Samford, Morehead State and SEMO, respectively. The Panthers received two first place votes.
Series
In 2003, Mizzou beat EIU, 3-2, in overtime in September, and beat them, 1-0, in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament later in the season. There will be no extensive research on Mizzou against the OVC, as Eastern Illinois is the only conference team the Tigers have played in the regular season.
Tiger Notes
Collins Earns Weekly Awards
For her performance last weekend, Collins was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. She was also selected to the Soccer America Women's Team of the Week, the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week and the TopDrawer Soccer Women's College Team of the Week. Her 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 came on only four shots.
Andrighetto Blasts Off to Begin Season
Collins wasn't the only one scoring in mass quantities last weekend. Sophomore Kristin Andrighetto knocked in one during the upset in Champaign, and added to her total by scoring twice in the home win against Western Michigan.
More Three's
A couple of Tigers finished the weekend with three points; junior Mo Redmond scored a goal and dished an assist Sunday against Western Michigan, while freshman Alysha Bonnick earned an assist in Friday's win, and scored the first goal of her career Sunday against the Broncos.
Tough "D"
In the first two games, the defense and midfielders held the two opponents to a combined 16 shots and three goals, to Mizzou's 57 shots and eight goals. Mizzou's anchors on defense, Kat Tarr, Lindsay McCoy and Crystal Wagner have played a big part in keeping the opposition out of the Tigers' zone and limiting their chances.
Goalkeeper Picture Getting Clearer?
Sophomore transfer Tasha Dittamore played three of the four halves in the preseason, and started both games in goal last weekend. She has given up three goals in just under two games played, while saving three shots. The transfer from Dayton University played seven games for the Flyers last season, earning 5-2 record, including two shutouts. She only gave up six goals all year.
Last year's keeper, Mallory Forst, saw some action in goal in the second half of Mizzou's win over Western Michigan. The Broncos didn't put a shot on goal in the 16 minutes she was in the box. The versatile sophomore is also playing in the forward position. She put one shot on goal in a little over 32 minutes of action in the first two games. Last season, Forst recorded four shutouts in her first four collegiate starts. She helped the defense set a new Missouri record with five-consecutive shutouts to start the year. She finished the season with 54 saves and a 1.50 goals against average.
Hamblin Back in Action...
After injuring her knee and only playing nine games last season, Tiger junior Ashley Hamblin is back to try to continue the success she enjoyed before her injury. Despite only playing in nine games, she led the team with 15 points (5G, 5A). So far this season, she has four shots, including three shots on goal.
...And Back in Iowa
The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native returns to her home state to play the Hawkeyes. In last year's meeting between the two teams, Hamblin scored a goal on a penalty kick and dished an assist to Andrighetto, sealing the deal for the victorious Tigers. Mizzou won the game, 2-0, to give MU a 5-0 series lead. Hamblin scored her first career goal in the Tigers' 5-0 win over Iowa in 2005 in Iowa City.
Tigers Return Most of their Scoring
Mizzou returns seven of its top eight scorers from 2006, including leading goal scorer, Andrighetto, who notched six last season, and already has three this year. Also returning beside Hamblin, Bree Thornton, who finished tied for second in points with 13, and tied for second with five goals. Janelle Cordia scored four goals and added an assist, and Meghan Pfeiffer, Mo Redmond and Michelle Collins also scored for Mizzou.
Preseason Picks
The Big 12 coaches picked Mizzou to finish 8th out of 11 teams, which is higher than they finished last season (10th) but still below where the team wants to be. The Tigers are ranked 13th in the preseason Soccer Buzz Central Region poll.
Tigers in the WPSL
Several Tigers completed successful seasons for the St. Louis-based River Cities Futbol Club of the Women's Professional Soccer League over the summer. Highlighting the season, Kat Tarr and Katya Hessel earned honors throughout the summer. Tarr was named to the WPSL Team of the Week for the week of June 27th, while, Hessel received honorable mention recognition for the week of June 8. Meghan Pfeiffer, Ashley Hamblin, Janelle Cordia and Tasha Dittamore also played for RCFC.