Feb. 26, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's soccer team revealed a strong spring schedule Thursday, highlighted by two exhibitions against St. Louis Athletica of Women's Professional Soccer.
Missouri, coming off its first Big 12 Championship, kicks off its spring season with a match against perennial Big 10 power Minnesota at Noon on Sunday, March 8 in Kansas City, Mo. The No. 15 Gophers, 22-4-0 last season en route to reaching the third round of the NCAA Tournament, will take on the Tigers at Rockhurst University's Wilfred C. Bourke Athletic Field.
The match will be a reunion for members of both coaching staffs. Prior to becoming the Golden Gophers' head coach, Mikki Denney Wright served three years as a Missouri assistant. Her current assistant, Kate Cortis, was also a Tigers' assistant coach. On the other sideline, Missouri assistant coach Molly Schneider played her junior and senior seasons for Minnesota before becoming a student assistant coach for the Golden Gophers in 2006.
Missouri then plays the first of two exhibition matches against the WPS' St. Louis Athletica at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 16 in St. Louis, Mo. Coached by Brazilian national team manager Jorge Barcellos, the professional squad includes U.S. National Team players Hope Solo, Lori Chalupny and Tina Ellertson, as well as a cast of top international and ex-collegiate players such as two-time Hermann Trophy winner Kerri Hanks. The two teams will meet again at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 20 in St. Louis as the final game in the Tigers spring season.
The Tigers' lone home game will be at 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 5 against Purdue at Walton Stadium. The Boilermakers went 12-7-3 in 2008, with a 5-3-2 record in Big 10 conference play.
Missouri then returns to St. Louis for a matchup with a third Big 10 opponent, Indiana, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 11.
The Tigers' spring schedule will also be complemented by an alumni weekend on April 18 and 19.
Date Opponent Time Location Sunday, March 8 Minnesota Noon Kansas City, Mo. Monday, March 16 St. Louis Athletica 2 p.m. St. Louis, Mo. Sunday, April 5 Purdue 9 a.m. Columbia, Mo. Saturday, April 11 Indiana 1 p.m. St. Louis, Mo. Monday, April 20 St. Louis Athletica 2 p.m. St. Louis, Mo.
| Date | Opponent | Time | Location | |||
| Sunday, March 8 | Minnesota | Noon | Kansas City, Mo. | |||
| Monday, March 16 | St. Louis Athletica | 2 p.m. | St. Louis, Mo. | |||
| Sunday, April 5 | Purdue | 9 a.m. | Columbia, Mo. | |||
| Saturday, April 11 | Indiana | 1 p.m. | St. Louis, Mo. | |||
| Monday, April 20 | St. Louis Athletica | 2 p.m. | St. Louis, Mo. | |||