Sept. 15, 2011
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Tigers return home to Walton Stadium this weekend as the squad hosts No. 8 Florida on Friday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Play for Pink game. The first 150 fans will receive free t-shirts and pink poms. Mizzou then hosts UMKC on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m.
UP NEXT
Opens Big 12 Conference action on the road next weekend. Mizzou faces off against Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. before traveling to Stillwater, Okla., for a matchup against No. 2 Oklahoma State on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m.
MIZZOU CLAIMS SUN DEVIL DESERT CLASSIC TITLE
Missouri picked up two wins last weekend to claim the Sun Devil Desert Classic title in Tempe, Ariz.
On Sept. 9, Mizzou faced off against Arizona and posted a 1-0 win over the Wildcats. Sophomore Brooke Williams notched the game-winner in the 75th minute off a cross from senior Kelsey Blincow.
Two days later, the Tigers played host Arizona State for the tournament title. The Sun Devils dominated the early going but Mizzou played strong in the second half. With less than three minutes remaining in regulation, freshman Abi Raymer unleashed a long range shot that eluded the Arizona State keeper for the game-winner.
Goalkeeper McKenzie Sauerwein and the back line of senior Mallory Stipetich and juniors Jessica Greer and Allison Hu propelled MU to shutouts in both contests.
STIPETICH AND SAUERWEIN EARN WEEKLY HONORS
Senior Mallory Stipetich and redshirt freshman McKenzie Sauerwein were honored for their play last week with weekly awards. Stipetich was named to TopDrawerSoccer.com's Women's College Team of the Week while Sauerwein received Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors and a spot on Soccer America's Team of the Week.
Stipetich earned TopDrawerSoccer.com honors for her play against Arizona and Arizona State. The captain helped the Tigers tournament title as Missouri defeated both the Wildcats and Sun Devils 1-0.
She has been an anchor for a Missouri defense that has five shutouts on the season. Stipetich has started every game this season at center back for the Tigers, playing all but 12 possible minutes.
Sauerwein played all 180 minutes in goal for Mizzou over the weekend and was credited with both shutouts, her second and third of the season. She recorded a career high seven saves against Arizona on Sept. 9 and followed that up with a five save performance against Arizona State on Sept. 11.
The goalkeeper has played 540 of Mizzou's 720 possible minutes in net for the Tigers in 2011 and boasts a 0.83 goals against average and a .844 save percentage.
FOUR TIGERS NAMED TO ALL-TOURNEY TEAM
Four Mizzou players were named to the Sun Devil Classic All-Tournament Team following their play against Arizona and Arizona State last weekend.
Sophomore Dominique Richardson earned MVP honors and was joined on the team by senior Mallory Stipetich, redshirt freshman McKenzie Sauerwein and freshman Abi Raymer.
TIGERS TIE CONSECUTIVE WINS RECORD
The Tigers have reeled off seven straight wins following a 2-1 loss at San Diego in the season opener, which ties the program record set during the 2006 season. During that year, Missouri posted seven consecutive wins from Aug. 25 - Sept. 15.
MU NEARING SHUTOUT RECORD
Mizzou has recorded shutouts in its last four game. If the Tigers manage to shutout No. 8 Florida, Missouri will tie the school mark for consecutive shutouts with five. The 2006 squad also accomplished this feat and did not allow a goal from Aug. 25 - Sept. 8.
TIGER DEFENSE PLAYING STRONG
The Missouri defense has upped its game in the last four outings, as the Tigers have not allowed a goal in over 375 minutes and have recorded four straight shutouts. The team now has five total on the season.
Goalkeeper McKenzie Sauerwein has played 285 of those minutes in net and posted 15 saves during the stretch. Freshman Caroline Stanley also played 90 minutes in net and had one save.
The backline of senior Mallory Stipetich and juniors Jessica Greer and Allison Hu has been stellar during the stretch as well. Both Stipetich and Hu have started all eight games in the back, while Greer has started all but the season opener at San Diego.
BALANCED ATTACK
Through eight games this season, the Tigers have scored 17 goals, with eight different players tallying at least one score. In fact, MU's first seven goals of the season were all scored by different players.
The Tigers also have three different players (Alyssa Diggs, Taylor Grant and Dominique Richardson) who have scored three goals apiece and three more (Abi Raymer, Kelsey Blincow and Brooke Williams) who have two goals.
SCOUTING FLORIDA
Florida enters the weekend ranked eighth (Soccer Times), ninth (NSCAA) and 10th (Soccer America) in the most recent polls. The Gators are 5-2 on the season, with wins over Miami (2-0), Florida International (2-0), Texas A&M (3-2), Texas Tech (3-0) and Florida Gulf Coast (5-0). The team suffered losses to UCLA (2-0) and Florida State (3-2).
Junior Erika Tymrak paces the Gators with 13 points on five goals and three assists on the year. Sophomore Taylor Travis has three goals and an assist for seven points and freshman Tessa Andujar has two goals and an assist for five points. Goalkeepers Taylor Burke and Brooke Chancey have split time in net, with Burke starting four games and Chancey starting three. Burke has a 0.86 goals against average and a .727 save percentage, while Chancey has a 1.14 goals against average and a .800 save percentage.
Florida is under the direction of 17-year Head Coach Becky Burleigh, who has a record of 288-74-26 in her time with the Gators.
SCOUTING UMKC
UMKC sports a 1-3-3 record on the season. The team picked up a 3-2 win over Florida International and tied Rockhurst (0-0), Youngstown State (1-1) and Drake (0-0).
Sophomore Taylor Bare leads the `Roos with two goals on the season, while sophomore Ashley Gann, junior Zaina Mayer and senior Laura Creason have eached notched one. Jami Finnell has played the bulk of the minutes in goal and sports a 1.61 goals against average and a .815 save percentage.
UMKC is under the direction of first-year Head Coach Chris Cissell, who has a record of 1-3-3 in his time with the `Roos.