Oct. 3, 2007

Game Notes

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Columbia, Mo. - The sixth-ranked University of Missouri women's soccer team (8-2-0, 2-0-0 Big 12) travels to Lubbock, Texas, Friday (Oct. 5) to take on the Texas Tech University Red Raiders (3-4-1, 1-1-0 Big 12) at 7 p.m. The Tigers will not play on Sunday, their first, and only, Sunday off all season.

Live Audio

Texas Tech will provide live audio play-by-play and commentary for Friday's game through RaiderVision All-Access. You can get to RaiderVision All-Access from the soccer schedule page: http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/sched/text-w-soccer-sched.html

Mizzou Jumps To Sixth in the National Rankings

With their two big wins over the first weekend of conference play, the Tigers moved up to sixth in the Soccer America Women's Top 25 Poll this week. With their 8-2-0 record, they are tied for their best ten game start to a season. Last year, the team also went 8-2-0 in its first ten games. Mizzou is 12th in the SoccerTimes.com poll, 14th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25 Rankings and 15th in the SoccerBuzz National Top 30 Poll.

Tigers Open Up Conference Play With Two Wins

Mizzou started conference play 2-0 for the first time since 2000, as they defeated the fourth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies, 3-2, in the second overtime period Friday (Sept. 28) in Columbia, and then downed Baylor, 4-2, Sunday (Sept. 30) in Waco, Texas. Iowa State was the only other conference team to start 2-0. The Tigers have never started their conference slate 3-0.

Game-Winners

Tiger sophomore Kristin Andrighetto scored both game-winning goals on the weekend. She put in Mizzou's third in the last minute of the second overtime period in Friday's 3-2 upset over Texas A&M. She also scored Mizzou's third goal in Sunday's win over Baylor. She now has three game-winners on the season, and nine goals overall. She was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for her outstanding play, beating out Ashlee Pistorius of Texas A&M who scored four goals on the weekend.

Welcome to the Big 12

In her first conference game of her career, Mizzou freshman Kari Adam scored the first two Tiger goals in their 3-2 win over then-No. 4 Texas A&M Friday (Sept. 28). Adam, who has played in all ten games for Mizzou this season, also has an assist to give her five points on the year. Adam was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.

Defense on Offense?

The Tigers' three defenders, junior Kat Tarr, junior Lindsay McCoy and sophomore Crystal Wagner, found their way into some offensive categories in last weekend's games. Tarr scored two goals, and McCoy and Wagner were each credited with assists. Tarr leads the group with three goals on the season, and she was named to the Soccer America Women's Team of the Week and the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week for her offense, and defense.

Working Overtime

Tarr played in all 199 minutes and 24 seconds of Mizzou's two games over the weekend. The defender has started all ten games, and she leads the team with eight complete games played this season.

Thanks Fans!

Friday night's crowd of 1,545 was the third-largest group of fans to watch a Mizzou soccer game at Walton Stadium! It was the largest crowd to see a Mizzou win since 1,926 fans saw the Tigers defeat Memphis, 3-2, on Aug. 31, 2001.

Friday's Match-up

Texas Tech is 3-4-1 on the season and 1-1 in the Big 12 after splitting the first two games of Big 12 action last weekend. Friday (Sept. 28) they defeated Colorado, 1-0, in Boulder, to start league play undefeated. Maegan Wilber scored the game's only goal, in the 76th minute, as she took a Zhaleh Rezaie free kick and put it into the goal.

Mizzou's High Powered Offense

NOTE: All national and conference statistical rankings only include games up to Sept. 30 (Last Sunday)

With seven goals last weekend, the Tigers now lead the Big 12 in goals scored, with 33 (3.3 per game) points, with 97 (9.7 per game) and assists, with 31 (3.1 per game). Going into this week, Mizzou is third in the nation with their 3.3 goals per game average. Andrighetto leads the team, and is close to the conference lead in many offensive categories. Her 24 points and nine goals are second to Pistorius, and her six assists is one behind Baylor's Megan Sherrel for the conference lead. Going into this week, Andrighetto is tied for sixth nationally with her 2.4 points per game average. She is tied for tenth in goals per game, with a 0.9 gpg average. But the Tigers have more than Andrighetto in the conference and national picture. Bonnick is tied for 20th nationally with 1.9 points per game and Michelle Collins is tied for 38th nationally with 0.7 goals per game.

...Against Texas Tech's Defense

The Red Raiders have given up nine goals in their first eight games, which averages out to 1.09 per game, ranking them eighth in the Big 12. They have earned three shutouts on the year, however, and they have only given up one goal in their last three games. Last week, the Red Raiders started five defenders and three midfielders in Sunday's loss at Texas. Sophomores Brittney Harrison, Sarabeth Clopton Sarah Greer and Jennifer Kammerer have played the most in the back line for Texas Tech. Harrison and Clopton have started every game and played every minute of the Red Radiers' season.

Mizzou's Defense

The Tigers have given up 14 goals on the season, giving them a 1.37 goals-against average, which ranks ninth in the Big 12. Mizzou has played four teams in the top 40 nationally in scoring, however, including Texas A&M, who is currently ninth in the nation. The Tiger defense is anchored by juniors Tarr and McCoy and sophomore Crystal Wagner. The back line has been the same for Mizzou the entire year, and the trio has played most of the games. They start four midfielders along with the back three.

...Against Tech's Offense

Texas Tech has scored ten goals on the year, which ties them for ninth in the Big 12. Only Kansas, who has scored six goals, sits below the Red Raiders in the category. Priscilla Esquivel and Emmie Bennett are tied for the team lead with two goals each. Karen De Leon and Zhaleh Rezaie each have one goal and an assist on the season. Texas Tech only plays two forwards. Brittney Harrison and Esquivel started in their last game against Texas Sunday (Sept. 30).

Goalkeepers

Mizzou has used two goalkeepers this season, as Tahsa Dittamore started the first five games in goal, but suffered an injury in the Tigers' fifth game, against Stanford (Sept. 14). She was 4-0 up to that point. Mallory Forst came in after Dittamore was injured and has started ever since, collecting a 4-2 record. Dittamore is now healthy and she played the last 15 minutes of Mizzou's win against Baylor (Sept. 30). In her four and a half games in net, Dittamore has given up four goals, while saving eight shots. Forst, who has played about five and a half games, has given up ten goals. Forst also has played forward for the Tigers, but her four assists on the season have come when she was in goal, as she takes most of Mizzou's free kicks.

Red Raider goalkeeper Tina Rincon has started all eight games for Texas Tech, collecting a 3-4-1 record. She has three shutouts on the season, and she has only given up one goal in the past three games. Last season, as a redshirt sophomore, Rincon started all 19 games in goal, earning a 1.48 goals against average and six shutouts.

Next Home Games

After their game Friday night, the Tigers will return to Columbia to get ready for another big conference weekend. Friday (Oct. 12) they will play host to Oklahoma at 6:30, and Sunday (Oct. 14), they will host No. 22 Oklahoma State at 1. Fans can buy tickets for Sunday's game for only $1.