Soccer Closes Regular Season with Kansas
10/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Oct. 30, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The No. 18 University of Missouri soccer team closes out their regular season at home against Border Showdown rival Kansas on Friday, Oct. 31 at 6:30 p.m. at Walton Stadium. The Tigers (12-5-0, 6-3-0) will honor their six seniors as part of the annual senior night festivities following the match. Additionally, the winning team will earn three points for its school in the M&I Bank Border Showdown Series, which is currently tied at 1.5 points apiece.
Last Time Out
The Tigers split a pair of hard fought, home conference contests last weekend.
First, on Friday, Missouri's stout defensive unit held Baylor (5-11-2, 1-7-1) to a single shot to allow freshman forward Candace Ruff's first collegiate goal stand up as the match winner in the 2-0 victory. Senior striker Ashley Hamblin tallied the assist on a free kick in the 30th minute – her sixth point in three games – as Ruff headed it home. Junior midfielder Meghan Pfeiffer doubled the Missouri advantage in the 77th minute as her shot took three touches – off a defender's head, off the goalie's hand, then off the crossbar -- before crossing the goalline for her second goal of the season.
The win was the eighth straight home victory for Missouri, a new school record, and extended the single season record in shutouts for both the team (nine) and junior goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore (eight). It also matched the program record for most regular season victories with 12, most conference victories with six, and most home shutouts with four.
Fortunes were reversed on Sunday as the Tigers fell 2-1 to No. 10 Texas (12-2-3, 5-2-2) in a game nationally televised on ESPNU and attended by 1,044 fans, the sixth best crowd in program history. Junior forward Kristin Andrighetto scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season in the 57th minute to put Missouri on top 1-0, but the Longhorns fired back with two superb strikes in a seven-minute span.
The Tigers outshot Texas 20-15, including an 11-6 edge in shots on goal, but Longhorns goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger made 10 saves in the match.
Six Seniors to be Honored
Following Friday's match, the Tigers' senior class of Janelle Cordia, Mallory Forst, Ashley Hamblin, Lindsay McCoy, Mo Redmond and Kat Tarr will all be honored for their four years of contribution both on and off the playing field. The group has been a core part of the team's success in recent years, leading the team to the second round of the NCAA tournament last season and into contention for selection again this season. Their 44-30-4 record over the last four seasons marks a .590 winning percentage, the best such percentage over a four year period in program history.
Tigers in the Polls
Following last weekend's results, Missouri stayed steady at No. 18 in the Soccer Times national rankings this week. For the second straight week, the Tigers are ranked in all five national polls, coming in at No. 24 in Soccer America, No. 27 in Soccer Buzz, No. 18 in Top Drawer Soccer, and No. 20 in the NSCAA/adidas coaches' poll. Missouri currently sits in fifth in the NSCAA/adidas Central Region Rankings this week, behind Big 12 foes Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and Colorado.
Missouri's five losses this season have come against strong competition, falling to current top 25 opponentsTexas, California and Oklahoma State, as well as suffering overtime losses to then-ranked Illinois and at Nebraska.
Closing Out Conference Play
With the conference finale on Friday, Missouri currently sits in fourth place in the conference standings with 18 points. The Tigers, who have already clinched a spot in next week's Big 12 tournament, can finish as high as second and no worse than third with a win over Kansas on Friday. Below are the scenarios for Missouri's finish in the Big 12, pending results:
TEAM PTS OPP
1. Texas A&M 22 ---
2. Colorado 20 ---
3. Oklahoma State 20 @ OU
4. Missouri 18 KU
5. Texas 17 Baylor
6. Nebraska 15 @ ISU
Missouri win, Oklahoma State loss = 2nd
Missouri win, Oklahoma State tie/win = 3rd
Missouri tie, Texas tie/loss = 4th
Missouri tie, Texas win = 5th
Missouri loss, Texas loss, Nebraska loss/tie = 4th
Missouri loss, Texas tie/win, Nebraska loss/tie = 5th
Missouri loss, Texas tie/win, Nebraska win = 6th
As expected, the Big 12 has proven to be one of the toughest conferences in the nation this season, with as many as five teams currently in the NSCAA/adidas top 20 national rankings: No. 9 Oklahoma State, No. 12 Texas, No. 14 Texas A&M, No. 15 Colorado, and No. 20 Missouri. Coming off a fourth place finish in 2007, the Tigers were picked to finish third behind Texas and Texas A&M in the Big 12 Coaches Preseason Poll.
Friday Night Lights
With the 2-0 win over Baylor last Friday, the Tigers improved to 7-0-0 this season in Friday competition. In eight Friday games this season, Missouri has now outscored opponents 20-2. The Tigers will put the perfect record on the line in their last game of the regular season against Kansas.
Strong 2008 Season
The Tigers' 12-5-0 start this season matches the best start to a season in program history, compiling the same record after 17 games as last season. Missouri can best the 2007 season with a win on Friday over Kansas. Similarly, the team's 6-3-0 start to Big 12 play equals a school best, matching last season's record and that of 1999. The Tigers are one win shy of breaking both the school record for regular season wins (achieved three times: 2007, 2001, and 1999) and conference wins (achieved twice: 2007 and 1999), and are one point shy of the program record for conference points (19 in 1999).
RPI Rankings
The NCAA revealed the first Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) power rankings of the 2008 season on Oct. 7, with the Tigers landing at No. 22 on the list. The RPI weights a team's strength of schedule in relation to their performance and will be updated throughout the remainder of the season. The top 25 ranking rewards Missouri's challenging non-conference schedule in which the Tigers faced quality teams from the Big Ten, SEC, and Pac-10 conferences.
The RPI rankings are also used in the selection process for the NCAA Tournament. Last year, Missouri received at an-large bid and the right to host as the Tigers reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling in double overtime to eventual national champions USC.
Tigers on National Television
ESPNU selected the Tigers for two of their four regular season NCAA women's soccer broadcasts this season. Mizzou's 3-0 upset win at No. 6 Texas A&M on Oct. 19th aired live on the national network, and last Sunday's matchup with No. 10 Texas was shown on a tape delay at 4:30 p.m. Veteran play-by-play announcer Beth Mowins and US Women's National Team defender Cat Whitehill called the action for both contests.
All Out Attack
After a slow first few games to the season, the Missouri offense has been producing plenty of goals as of late -- 34 in its last 12 games – and the onslaught has been via a collective effort. The Tigers' 36 goals this season have come from 14 different players, with Ruff earning her first of the year last weekend. A total of 16 players have tallied at least a point, the most players to earn points since 2001. Andrighetto and sophomore striker Alysha Bonnick lead the team with seven goals and 16 points, followed by Michelle Collins with five goals and four assists for 14 points. Missouri has only been shutout once this season and is the only Big 12 team not to have been shutout in conference play this season. Finally, the Tigers have scored multiple goals in 13 of their last 14 games.
Starting Strong as of Late
After not scoring a goal in the first half in the team's first five games this season, Missouri struck in the opening half in each of its next 11. While the offensive streak ended on Sunday against Texas, the Tigers' defense kept theirs intact, not allowing a first-half goal for eight straight games. All told, Missouri has outscored conference opponents 11-1 in the opening forty-five minutes. The early leads have proven to be a successful formula for the Tigers who are 12-3-0 when scoring first and 8-1-0 when leading at the half.
Tigers Among League Leaders
Within conference play so far this season, Missouri is second in shots (189), third in goals (18) and points (49), while coming in fourth in assists (13), goals allowed (eight), and goals against average (0.87). The team leads the conference in overall shutouts (nine) and conference shutouts, earning clean sheets in six of their nine conference matches thus far.
Within Big 12 play, three Tiger players have also risen the ranks. Andrighetto is first in goals (six), goals per game (0.67), and game-winning goals (two); second in points (13) and points per game (1.44); and third in shots (38) and shots per game (38). Junior forward Michelle Collins also is atop the charts in assists per game (0.57), second in assists (four), and fifth in points per game (1.14). Finally, Dittamore leads the Big 12 in all competition with eight shutouts and a 0.47 shutouts per game average, as well as within Big 12 play with five shutouts and a 0.56 shutouts per game average.
Andrighetto, Dittamore Climbing the Charts
Andrighetto is making her mark felt on the Missouri career record books this season. Having already moved up the career charts to third on the game winning goals list, fourth on the shots list and sixth on the Tigers' points chart this season, Andrighetto's nine shots on goal last weekend were enough to pass Adriene Davis (2000-03) for fourth on the career shots on goal list with 106 in her three seasons. Andrighetto was an All-Big 12 first team selection as a sophomore last season, only the second Missouri player to ever receive such recognition, after tallying 14 goals and nine assists.
On the other end of the field, Dittamore's victory over Baylor last Friday was her 12th of the season, tying her for the single-season record with Jackie Adamec. Already this season, Dittamore has moved into third place on the Missouri career victories list with 18. Dittamore, a 2007 Big 12 All-Newcomer Team selection, has twice won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors this season and has set a new single season school record with eight shutouts in 2008.
Tigers Take Advantage of Depth
Head Coach Bryan Blitz has been making the most of his roster in Missouri's 2008 campaign. All 19 field players used thus far have seen over 300 minutes of action and all have been selected to start as least one game. Junior goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore leads the team with 1,506 minutes, while Missouri's veteran backline of senior Janelle Cordia, senior Kat Tarr, and junior Crystal Wagner have all logged over 1,400 minutes, the most of any field players. Of the incoming class, top-75 recruit Kelsey Blincow has become the most consistent starter earning 735 minutes, while Mallory Stipetich has come off the bench to earn five points for the Tigers this season.
Capitalizing on Corner Kicks
After earning 16 corner kicks in their two matches last weekend, the Tigers have set a school record with 120 this season. Missouri is averaging seven per game and leads the Big 12 in overall corners (120) and corners in conference play (66). The set pieces have proven to be a pivotal part of the Tigers' attack, with four goals scored off of corner kicks so far this season.
Scouting Kansas
The Jayhawks (11-6-1, 4-4-1) enter Friday's contest in seventh place in the conference standings and receiving votes in both the NSCAA/adidas and Soccer Times polls.
Kansas, 4-3-1 on the road this season, is led on offense by junior Monica Dolinsky with eight goals and six assists for 22 points. The 2006 Big 12 All-Newcomer Team selection is currently third in conference in shots (67), fourth in points (22) and fifth in goals (eight). Fellow junior Shannon McCabe has 17 points on the season after recording a hat trick and assist against Francis Marion. Redshirt freshman Emily Cressy, twice named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week this season, also has 17 points on seven goals and three assists.
In goal for Kansas is redshirt junior Julie Hanley, who led the Big 12 in shutouts as a sophomore in 2006. This season, she has posted a 1.21 goals against average and tallied 50 saves on 70 shots faced.
Head coach Mark Francis' squad, picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 preseason poll, went 7-10-4 overall and 5-2-3 in conference last season, finishing tied with Missouri for third in the Big 12 standings. The Jayhawks held the head-to-head tiebreaker, winning 2-1 in Lawrence, Kan., in the final game of the regular season for both teams.
Missouri is 5-9-0 all-time against the Jayhawks, and will try to break a six game slide against the rivals.
Mizzou Soccer Online
In addition to the official news, photos, statistics and more that are available on the newly designed mutigers.com, the Missouri soccer program is complementing the team's coverage with several supplementary sites for fans, alumni, and recruits. The team has continued to update ThisIsMizzouSoccer.com since its debut this spring, which features a coach's blog, photos and video of the team in action, team information and much more. Additionally, Missouri was the first school to launch its customized team page on the recently unveiled GoCollegeSoccer.com. Finally, the team launched a MizzouSoccer Twitter account last week to provide instant updates and information on the team, as well as a MizzouSoccer YouTube channel to post match footage. The Tigers are excited to continue highlighting their program in the national spotlight via all of these resources and to provide up close and timely coverage of the team for all those who follow Mizzou soccer.
