Aug. 6, 2008

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri soccer team begins its quest for a fourth NCAA Tournament berth on Thursday, Aug. 7 when 23 student-athletes hit the field to open preseason practices for the 2008 fall season at 8 a.m.

Mizzou opens its training with fitness and skills testing in the morning and will hold an intra-squad scrimmage in the afternoon. The team will then hold two-a-days on Friday, Aug. 8, Sunday, Aug. 10 and Monday, Aug. 11 and one practice on Wednesday, Aug. 13 before an exhibition game at Creighton in Omaha, Neb., on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 11 a.m.

Head Coach Bryan Blitz, the 2007 Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, enters his 13th season at the helm of the Tigers and returns 10 starters to the fall season from a 2007 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual national champion USC in double-overtime. Mizzou finished last season with a 13-8-1 record, which tied for the second most wins in program history.

After an exhibition game on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. against Illinois State at Walton Stadium, Missouri will open the 2008 season with a home contest against Illinois on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Preseason Practice Schedule
Date         Time
Aug. 7       8 a.m., 4 p.m.
Aug. 8       8 a.m., 4 p.m.
Aug. 10     8 a.m., 4 p.m.
Aug. 11     8 a.m., 4 p.m.
Aug. 13     8 a.m.
Aug. 14     @ Creighton (exhibition) 11 a.m.
Aug. 15     4 p.m.
Aug. 16     10 a.m.