Nov. 13, 2007

By Mizzou Media Relations Student Assistant Andrew Shepler

Columbia, Mo. - Having the 11th-ranked offense in the nation, the Missouri Tigers women's soccer team seems to be striking on all cylinders, but it is not because of luck.

"We get along great on and off the field so I think that is a big help too. It just makes our playing a lot better, and our chemistry on the field is great so we can work together and score," Sophomore forward Kristin Andrighetto said.

The chemistry has lead to 52 goals on the season for the Tigers.

"From our very first game I noticed the forwards clicking really well," Andrighetto said. "We flick it and we know someone is going to be there behind us and we know that when one person presses the other two are coming to help, so I think we've done really well working off the chemistry that we have."

The chemistry all starts with recruiting. Head Coach Bryan Blitz emphasizes that the team is a family, and the chemistry that comes from that plays out on the field.

"I think I adapted quickly...having what we call our Mizzou soccer family, it's just so welcoming," sophomore forward Michelle Collins said. The family helps to bring the freshman in and make them feel at home.

"If you don't get along off the field, I think it would show on the field," Andrighetto said. "Coach Blitz really emphasizes that we all support each other and that we're there for each other and were pretty much all good friends. When you come into that as a freshman its nice because you know that if you need any help one of your teammates is there."

While the chemistry plays a part, the tactics have also helped. Blitz uses three forwards and encourages the forwards to press and get pressure on goal.

"When we pressure their defense we don't want the ball out so any type of rebound we get and we counterattack and everyone can get involved in that counterattack," Collins said.

The system works well for the Tigers because they have the right personnel, but having three forwards can be risky.

"Well I think it's a high risk, high reward system, so the more the better," Blitz said. "I think we have the depth to play it. For our system we feel like you have to have six forwards, and we feel like we have that with our personnel."

The personnel to play with three forwards and be successful comes back to the team mentality and chemistry.

"I think our biggest asset overall is probably the mentality of our players," Blitz said. "We like to be aggressive whether it's attacking or defending and really when we play a three front our defense starts with our forwards. If it doesn't we can't be successful up there with that shape and that system. We feel like its such a good match for the personnel we have."

The offense is not about one or two superstars, either.

"We're able to combine with each other and play off each other and it doesn't depend on one person scoring," Andrighetto said. "Last year we depended on Ashley scoring and then she got hurt and our offense came to a stop, so its really nice to have multiple people be able to score this year and to be able to work off each other and spread it around."

With so many people scoring the team chemistry is apparent.

"That's one thing that we stress, we work for each other," Collins said. "It's very important that when we play we don't try to beat ourselves and we just try to stay positive always and help each other out, that's definitely so important, the chemistry, and we always emphasize that we're a family here, its really important."

The Tigers will play Southeast Missouri State in the first round of the NCAA Championship at 7 p.m. Friday evening at Walton Stadium in Columbia. Southern California will face Creighton at 4 p.m., with the winners of the two games meeting Sunday at 1 p.m. in the second round.