COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Tigers return home to Walton Stadium this weekend for a pair of conference matchups. On Friday, Sept. 30, Missouri hosts the No. 24 Texas A&M Aggies at 6:30 p.m., Mizzou then returns to the pitch two days later for a 1 p.m. contest against the Texas Longhorns on Sunday, Oct. 2.
UP NEXT
Mizzou hosts SIU-Edwardsville on Friday, Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Walton Stadium.
MIZZOU FALLS AT TEXAS TECH, NO. 2 OKLAHOMA STATE
Missouri went suffered losses at Texas Tech and No. 2 Oklahoma State last weekend to open Big 12 play.
On Sept. 23, the Red Raiders earned a 1-0 win over Mizzou. Texas Tech got on the board early with a goal in the third minute from Jessica Fuston. Mizzou had chances throughout the game, especially in the second half, as sophomore Alyssa Diggs, junior Taiwo Adeshigbin and freshman Abi Raymer all had shots saved by Texas Tech's goalkeeper. Sophomore Dominique Richardson narrowly missed a game-tying goal in the 86th minute when her attempt sailed just over the cross bar.
Two days later Oklahoma State defeated the Tigers 2-0. Oklahoma State's Abbey Akin notched the game-winner in the 34th minute when she scored off a rebound. Missouri kept pressure on the Cowgirl defense and had an excellent chance to tie the game off a chance from senior Kendra Collins. However, Collins' shot to the upper corner was punched away by Oklahoma State goalkeeper Adrianna Franch. The Cowgirls added an insurance goal in the 81st minute when Sarah Brown found the back of the net.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper McKenzie Sauerwein made a career high 10 saves in net for the Tigers.
MISSOURI DEFENSE WITH SIX SHUTOUTS SO FAR THIS SEASON
MU's 3-0 shutout of UMKC on Sept. 16 marked the team's sixth shutout of the season, which is tied for second in the Big 12. The mark is also tied for the second-most shutouts in a season at MU. The 2008 squad set the program record of 12 shutouts but this year's team is tied with 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2002 for second on the list with six.
Goalkeeper McKenzie Sauerwein has four of the shutouts while she split the other two with Caroline Stanley. Sauerwein, Stanley and the backline of senior Mallory Stipetich and juniors Jessica Greer and Allison Hu has been stellar all season, allowing just 0.83 goals per game.
TIGERS TIE CONSECUTIVE WINS RECORD
The Tigers reeled off seven straight wins sandwiched between a 2-1 loss at San Diego in the season opener and a 2-0 loss to No. 8 Florida on Sept. 16. The mark tied the program record for consecutive wins set during the 2006 season. During that year, Missouri posted seven consecutive wins from Aug. 25 - Sept. 15.
TIGERS CAN SET BEST NON-CONFERENCE WINNING PERCENTAGE
Through 10 non-conference games so far this season, the Tigers have a record of 8-2 for a .800 winning percentage. With one more non-conference game on the schedule, a match against SIU-Edwardsville on Oct. 7, Missouri has a chance to get the program record for winning percentage against non-league teams.
Right now the 2007's 8-1 mark against non-conference squads stands as the leader with a winning percentage of .889. If the Tigers were to defeat SIUE on Oct. 7, Mizzou would have a winning percentage of .909, thanks to a record of 9-2.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
Texas A&M enters Walton Stadium with a record of 8-4 overall and a 2-0 mark in Big 12 Conference play. The Aggies have reeled off five straight wins, jumpstarted by a 4-3 win over No. 1 North Carolina on Sept. 11.
The Aggie offense, which averages 3.82 goals per game, is led by freshmen Kelley Monogue and Annie Kunz. Monogue leads the squad with 22 points on eight goals and six assists, while Kunz has a team high nine goals and three assists for 21 points.
SCOUTING TEXAS
Texas has an overall record of 7-3 on the season and is 1-1 in conference action so far. Last weekend, the Longhorns fell to Baylor, 1-0, and earned a 2-1 win over Iowa State.
Senior Kylie Doniak leads Texas with 13 points on a team high five goals and three assists. Additionally, senior Taylor Knaack, junior Vanessa Ibewuike and sophomore Lexi Harris have all notched three goals this year.
MIZZOU GAME TO AIR ON ESPNU
For the fourth consecutive season, the Missouri Tigers will play a game televised nationally on ESPNU. This season, Mizzou's matchup with Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., on Oct. 16 will be aired on the network.
In 2008, Missouri's games against Texas and Texas A&M were broadcast nationally on ESPNU. The Tigers and Aggies' games in 2009 and 2010 were also aired on the channel.
SAUERWEIN AND STIPETICH EARN WEEKLY HONORS
Senior Mallory Stipetich and redshirt freshman McKenzie Sauerwein were honored for their play Sept. 9-11 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.
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.
RICHARDSON EARNS NATIONAL ACCOLADES
Sophomore Dominique Richardson earned spots on Soccer America's National Team of the Week and CollegeSoccer360.com's Primetime Performers following a four-point weekend against No. 7 Ohio State and Purdue.
Richardson notched the game-winner in MU's 1-0 upset over the Buckeyes on Aug. 26. She put the Tigers on the board in the 51st minute and helped the defense hold on for the victory. Two days later against Purdue, Richardson gave Mizzou its first lead of the game, 2-1, after heading home a corner kick from Kelsey Mulcahy in the 51st minute.