Sept. 15, 2009

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Senior goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced on Tuesday. Dittamore is coming off a weekend in which she totaled 11 saves as Missouri went 1-0-1 to win the Auburn Soccer Classic.

Dittamore recorded seven saves against the Auburn Tigers and another four in the Tigers' overtime draw against Vanderbilt, while limiting each team to only one goal. Currently, she ranks first in the Big 12 in saves with 31, and second in saves per game averaging. 4.43.

Dittamore's most impressive save of the weekend came in the eighth minute of last Friday night's game against Auburn. With the game still level at 0-0, Auburn's Caitlin King collected a loose ball near the penalty spot and fired a low, hard show that forced a sprawling, one-handed save from Dittamore to push the ball just wide of the net. The save proved to be crucial, as the Tigers went on to win 2-1.

The weekly award is the third of Dittamore's career and the first of any kind for the Tigers this season. Coincidentally, Dittamore won this award last season after an equally impressive performance against Auburn.

Dittamore will lead the Tiger defense in this weekend's trip to Los Angeles, when Missouri will compete in the UCLA Women's Cup. The Tigers will face Loyola-Marymount on Friday, Sept. 18, at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Sunday matchup against the No. 4 UCLA Bruins at 1 p.m.