Aug. 15, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri soccer team was selected third in the Big 12 preseason poll in a vote by league coaches, announced on Friday. The Tigers, who received two first-place votes, also tied Texas with a conference-high three players chosen to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. Juniors Kristin Andrighetto (Pleasant Hill, Calif. / Carondelet) and Meghan Pfeiffer (Chesterfield, Mo. / Parkway West) and senior Mo Redmond (Brownsburg, Ind. / Brebeuf Jesuit) were chosen to the 12-member team.
Texas was picked to win the 2008 Big 12 soccer championship after receiving five first-place votes and 94 points. Texas A&M, chosen second, received four first-place votes and 93 points, while Missouri came in third with 77 points and two first-place votes. The remainder of the poll consisted of Oklahoma State in fourth place, followed by Colorado, Kansas, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Baylor.
Andrighetto, a forward, became just the second Tiger to earn All-Big 12 first team honors as a sophomore in 2007. She led Missouri with 37 points and 14 goals, the highest goal total for a Tiger since 1999. Andrighetto also was the third student-athlete in program history to earn All-America accolades, with a fourth team selection by Soccer Buzz.
Midfielders Pfeiffer and Redmond were each named to the All-Big 12 second team last season. Pfeiffer started all 22 games as a sophomore last year and had three points on one goal and one assist. Redmond, a 2007 NSCAA/adidas and Soccer Buzz All-Central Region third selection, had two goals and seven assists for 11 points in her junior season.
After its second and final exhibition game against Illinois at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17, Mizzou officially opens the 2008 season at Walton Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 23 against Illinois at 6:30 p.m.
2008 BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL
(First place votes in parentheses; Coaches not allowed to vote for own team or players)
| Rank | Team (First Place Votes) | Points |
| 1 | Texas (5) | 94 |
| 2 | Texas A&M (4) | 93 |
| 3 | Missouri (2) | 77 |
| 4 | Oklahoma State | 71 |
| 5 | Colorado | 66 |
| 6 | Kansas | 60 |
| 7 | Texas Tech | 48 |
| 8 | Nebraska | 33 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 29 |
| 10 | Iowa State | 18 |
| 11 | Baylor | 14 |
2008 PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 TEAM
| Position | Athlete | School | Year | Hometown |
| GK | Kristin Arnold | Texas A&M | Jr. | Centennial, Colo. |
| D | Michelle Wenino | Colorado | Sr. | Aurora, Colo. |
| D | Stephanie Logterman | Texas | Sr. | Austin, Texas |
| D | Kasey Moore | Texas | Sr. | Mission Viejo, Calif. |
| D | Brittney Harrison | Texas Tech | Jr. | Plano, Texas |
| MF | Meghan Pfeiffer | Missouri | Jr. | Chesterfield, Mo. |
| MF | Mo Redmond | Missouri | Sr. | Brownsburg, Ind. |
| MF | Yolanda Odenyo | Oklahoma State | Sr. | Uppsala, Sweden |
| F | Nikki Marshall | Colorado | Jr. | Mead, Colo. |
| F | Aysha Jamani | Nebraska | Sr. | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| F | Kristin Andrighetto | Missouri | Jr. | Pleasant Hill, Calif. |
| F | Niki Arlitt | Texas | So. | Houston, Texas |
Note: Due to ties in the voting, 12 student-athletes were honored on the preseason team.