Sept. 2, 2008

COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri junior goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday. The selection rewards Dittamore's shutout performance against Auburn on Friday in which she made four saves in Missouri's 1-0 victory.

Auburn entered the match averaging five goals a game after scoring nine goals on 51 shots against Grambling State in their opener, but Dittamore shined in stopping every Auburn effort. After a quiet first half behind a well-organized defense, Dittamore made all four saves in the second half -- the most notable in the 86th minute when her sliding stop prevented an on-rushing Caitlin King to preserve the win.

The clean sheet gives the Granite City, Ill., native 11 saves and a .846 save percentage after two games in net for the No. 22 Tigers (TopDrawerSoccer.com) this season. She is also the current conference leader in saves per game with a 5.5 average.

The weekly award is the first of Dittamore's career and the first for a Missouri player in 2008. After transferring to Missouri from Dayton following her freshman year, Dittamore was a 2007 Big 12 All-Newcomer Team selection last season in which she compiled a 6-3 record with three shutouts, 21 saves, and a 1.21 goals against average while sharing time with Mallory Forst in goal.

Dittamore will lead the Tigers again this weekend as they return to action on back-to-back days against California and Eastern Washington University on Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7, respectively.