Dec. 10, 2009

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's soccer team received recognition for their 2009 season on Saturday, with a ceremony at halftime of the Missouri men's basketball team's 87-36 victory at Mizzou Arena.

The Tigers were honored for a year that culminated with their second consecutive Big 12 championship, becoming the first Missouri sport to claim back-to-back Big 12 titles since the conference's inception in 1996.

A crowd of 7,583 was on hand as Governor Jay Nixon, President Gary Forsee, Chancellor Brady Deaton, and Athletic Director Mike Alden acknowledged the team for their success and honored Big 12 Coach of the Year, Bryan Blitz, who accrued his 150th win at Mizzou during the season.

The Tigers, who were also recognized at the Missouri homecoming football game earlier in the year, asserted themselves as the top team in the Big 12 in 2009 as they compiled one of the best seasons in school history. Having won its first conference crown last year as 2008 Big 12 Tournament champions, the Tigers went on to achieve a 7-1-2 mark in conference, good for a program record 23 points, to finish well atop the 2009 standings.

The team's 13-6-3 overall record stands as the second best winning percentage in school history and ranks third for number of wins. The year was highlighted by a program-best 10-game unbeaten streak late in the season as the Tigers finished the year strong.

The team's accomplishments translated into individual honors for several players throughout the season. The Tigers led all Big 12 schools with seven Player of the Week selections and had four players named to the 2009 All-Big 12 first and second teams, highlighted by Crystal Wagner being named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.