Nov. 3, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri soccer team (12-5-3, 7-1-2) travels to San Antonio, Texas, for the 2009 Big 12 Championship. The No. 1 seed Tigers open action with No. 8 Kansas (12-7-2, 4-6-0) on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 5:30 p.m. Missouri earns a rematch of Friday’s 3-2 road loss to the Jayhawks after Kansas squeaked past Texas Tech in the play-in game with a shootout after a 1-1 double-overtime tie Monday evening.
LAST TIME OUT
On Friday, Oct. 30, the Tigers suffered their first loss in conference play, a 3-2 defeat at Kansas, in the regular season finale. The Tigers grabbed an early lead as junior forward Alysha Bonnick and senior striker Kristin Andrighetto combined to beat the Jayhawk defense less than a minute into the match. The North Gower, Ontario, native played the ball out wide to Andrighetto who dribbled to the endline and returned a pass to Bonnick for a first-time finish to the near post.
Kansas equalized in the 22nd minute as senior midfielder Monica Delinsky slotted a through-ball to redshirt-sophomore Emily Cressy, who calmly placed her shot to the right of Tigers’ goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore.
The Jayhawks took the lead in the 37th minute, when Shelby Williamson dribbled to the top of the Missouri box and struck a low shot into the side of the net to make it 2-1. Kansas extended their lead to 3-1 in the 77th minute when Cressy got her foot on the ball during a scramble in the Missouri box and scored.
Senior Michelle Collins would pull the Tigers within a goal in the 83rd as she capitalized on a botched save attempt to make it 3-2. However, Kansas would hold on in the final minutes to preserve their lead.
2009 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
The Big 12 Championship will be held at Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio for the 13th consecutive year. The Tigers earned the No. 1 seed for the Championship and will play eighth-seeded Kansas (which advanced on a play-in game with Texas Tech) on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The winner of that game will face the winner of four-seed Nebraska and five-seed Oklahoma State, who kick off at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday. In the other half of the bracket, Texas A&M earned the two-seed and will face seven-seed Baylor at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The winner of that game will face the winner of the three-seed Colorado and six-seed Texas contest at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6. The winners of the semifinal games will meet Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. to battle for the Big 12 Championship.
TIGERS IN THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
With its first ever Big 12 regular season title, Missouri qualified for the Big 12 Championship for the 12th time in 14 years. This year marks the first time the Tigers have entered the Championship as the top seed. In 1999 and 2008 Mizzou earned the three-seed. Missouri has claimed one Big 12 Tournament title (2008), advanced to the championship game four times (1998, 1999, 2003 and 2008) and won the opening quarterfinal contest seven of the 11 years it has qualified.
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Year
|
Finish
|
Seed
|
Record
|
Final Result
|
|
1996
|
T-5th
|
5
|
1-1
|
Lost to No. 1 Nebraska, 2-1, in semifinal
|
|
1998
|
T-5th
|
5
|
2-1
|
Lost to No. 2 Nebraska, 4-0, in championship
|
|
1999
|
T-3rd
|
3
|
2-1
|
Lost to No. 1 Nebraska, 2-1, in championship
|
|
2000
|
5th
|
5
|
0-1
|
Lost to No. 4 Baylor, 4-3 (OT), in quarterfinal
|
|
2001
|
5th
|
5
|
1-1
|
Lost to No. 1 Texas, 1-0 (4OT), in semifinal
|
|
2002
|
4th
|
4
|
0-1
|
Lost to No. 5 Colorado, 1-0, in quarterfinal
|
|
2003
|
8th
|
8
|
2-1
|
Lost to No. 7 Oklahoma State, 3-2 (2OT) in championship
|
|
2004
|
6th
|
6
|
0-1
|
Lost to No. 3 Colorado, 2-1 (OT), in quarterfinal
|
|
2005
|
8th
|
8
|
0-1
|
Lost to No. 1 Texas A&M, 3-1, in quarterfinal
|
|
2007
|
4th
|
4
|
1-1
|
Lost to No. 1 Texas A&M, 4-1, in semifinal
|
|
2008
|
3rd
|
3
|
3-0
|
Beat No. 4 Colorado, 1-0, in championship
|
GETTING TO KNOW KANSAS
The Kansas Jayhawks (12-7-2, 4-6-0) defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Monday, Nov. 2, 5-4 in penalty kicks after drawing 1-1 in regulation. The play-in game victory earned the Jayhawks the No. 8 seed in the Big 12 Tournament.
Freshman Whitney Berry scored in the 20th minute to put the Jayhawks in the lead before Texas Tech leveled only 30 seconds later. The goal was her sixth of the season, and she currently shares second place in points (21) with senior Monica Dolinsky who assisted on the goal. Sophomore Emily Cressy currently leads the team in points with 25, having scored 11 goals and assisting on three others in 2009.
Goalkeepers Kat Liebetrau and Julie Hanley have split time between the pipes for Kansas this season, and have combined for five shutouts and 82 saves this season.
Head Coach Mark Francis has compiled a 129-85-17 at KU and is currently in his 11th season in charge. Kansas is winning the all-time series with Missouri with a record of 10-6-1
MISSOURI WINS BIG 12 REGULAR SEASON TITLE
With their 5-0 drubbing of Nebraska last Sunday, Oct. 25, the Tigers wrapped up the Big 12 regular season championship. No Missouri program has won the regular season title since the softball team won it back in 1997. The Tigers will look to improve upon last year’s successes as they attempt to defend the 2008 Big 12 tournament trophy when the tournament begins play on Nov. 4 in San Antonio, Texas.
TIGERS UP PRODUCTION IN BIG 12 PLAY
Missouri averaged a league high 27 goals for a 2.7 goals per game average in conference play this season. This barrage of offense came after the team averaged just 1.67 goals per contest over the first nine games of the season, culminating in a 5-0 loss to UCLA. Following that contest the Tigers erupted for a 8-0 victory over Northern Iowa to enter Big 12 play on a winning note. Since that game with UCLA, Mizzou has averaged 3.18 goals per game.
MIZZOU FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET
With 51 goals so far this season, this year’s Tiger team currently ranks fifth in program history with goals in a season. The 1999 squad has the program mark of 61 goals, followed by 56 scored in 1998. The 53 goals scored in both 2001 and 2007 are within reach for Mizzou against Kansas on Wednesday. The two goals scored by the Tigers in the 3-2 loss to Kansas on Oct. 30 passed last year’s team, which scored 50.
THORNTON HONORED FOR WORK IN THE CLASSROOM
Senior midfielder Bree Thornton was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 7 Division second team, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday.
To be eligible for academic honors, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
Thornton has played a key role for the Tigers this season, having notched five goals and three assists while starting all of the team’s 20 games. Thornton was recognized for her play earlier this season, when she was awarded Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. Thornton scored three goals and added an assist in games against Northern Iowa and Oklahoma State on the weekend of Sept. 25.
MIZZOU SWEEPS WEEKLY AWARDS
The Tigers swept the Big 12 weekly awards, the conference announced Tuesday, Oct. 27. Senior Kristin Andrighetto was awarded the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, senior Tasha Dittamore was awarded the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, and freshman Kellie Gavigan was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.
Andrighetto was awarded for the second time in her career, after scoring three goals and adding an assist in the Tigers’ victories over Iowa State and Nebraska this past weekend. The senior striker leads the team in points (20) and goals (eight), both of which rank fifth in the Big 12. Her goals this past weekend helped move her into second place all-time for career goals at Missouri with 35.
Dittamore earned the defensive award for the third time this season, after giving up just one goal and notching her program-best 17th shutout in the team’s 5-0 victory over Nebraska on Sunday. The senior goalkeeper stopped seven shots over the weekend, while helping to stifle a Nebraska offense that is one of the best in the country. Her 73 saves on the season rank third in the Big 12.
The Big 12 Newcomer of the Week award is the first of any kind for Gavigan, who played every minute in the Tiger’s games this past weekend. She helped anchor the Tiger backline and silence Nebraska’s Morgan Marlborough, the nation’s leading scorer. The Tiger defense currently ranks second in the Big 12 in shutouts and third in fewest goals allowed.
BLITZ NEARS MILESTONE
While the Tiger offense is thriving, Head Coach Brian Blitz is just two wins away from winning his 200th career match. Blitz has already set another victory milestone this season, having won his 150th game with the Tigers on Oct. 16 in a 5-0 victory over Baylor. Blitz began coaching at Butler from 1991-1995, and amassed a 45-44-8 record in that span.
2009 SENIORS ARE WINNINGEST CLASS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
This season’s batch of seniors has made their mark on Missouri soccer having compiled the best winning percentage (.652) and most wins (51) of any class to come through the program. The class helped the program reach the NCAA tournament in 2007 and 2008, its first trips since the 2003 season. Along with berths in postseason play, the 2009 seniors helped lead a team that won the Big 12 tournament in 2008 and just recently won the Big 12 regular season championship, a first for any Missouri program since 1997.
RECORDS TO WATCH IN 2009
Several players are poised to make a move on the Mizzou Soccer record books this season in the career statistical categories. Andrighetto is fourth in game winning goals (nine), goals (35) and career points (90). Michelle Collins is tied for sixth in game winning goals (eight), fifth in assists (22) tied for sixth in points (76), and seventh in goals (27). Bonnick, as a junior, has become the all-time career leader in game winning goals (13), tied for sixth in goals (29) and tied for sixth in points (76).
Additionally, senior Crystal Wagner now sits tied for second with 79 career starts while classmate Meghan Pfeiffer is tied for ninth with 74 games started. Andrighetto also ranks fifth with 83 games played, while Pfeiffer is tied for ninth with 81. Wagner is just behind with 80 games played.
Senior goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore has set herself apart in her career with the Tigers. She is now the all-time career leader in shutouts (17) and wins (34), runner-up in win percentage (.710), third in goals against average (1.10), and fourth in saves (176).
NEW LOOK TIGERS IN 2009
The Tigers return eight starters and 15 of 21 letter winners from their successful 2008 squad, but there are plenty of new faces as the Tigers kick off the 2009 campaign. Missouri signed one of its largest incoming classes in program history with the arrival of nine freshmen and a senior transfer for the 2009 season. Freshmen goalkeeper Jessica Gwin and freshman midfielder Haley Krentz were both named to TopDrawerSoccer’s Top 100 Players to Watch, while Michelle Makasini comes to Columbia from LSU after earning TopDrawerSoccer All-American honors as a freshman and sophomore.
All told, the Tigers have a balance of 11 upperclassmen (seven seniors, four juniors) and 16 underclassmen (six sophomores, 10 freshmen) that hail from nine different states and Canada. Additionally, three new coaches will be on the sideline for the Tigers. Shaunna Daugherty, formerly an assistant at Illinois State, and Todd Shulenberger, from Clemson, join the Missouri coaching staff as assistants, while volunteer assistant Danny Graville enters his first season in charge of fitness and conditioning for the team.
THREE TIGERS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12
For the second year in a row, the Preseason All-Big 12 Team featured three Missouri Tigers. Seniors Crystal Wagner, Meghan Pfeiffer, and Andrighetto were all selected to the conference preseason team as voted on by league coaches. The three selections were the second most of any team, trailing only Texas A&M’s four honorees. Andrighetto is a two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection and Pfeiffer is a two-time All-Big 12 Second Team selection; both players received the recognitions their sophomore and junior seasons.
BONNICK ON HERMANN WATCH LIST
Junior striker Alysha Bonnick is in consideration for one of the top recognitions in the sport with the NSCAA’s announcement of the 2009 Hermann Trophy Watch List. Bonnick is one of 45 players in the country on the Missouri Athletic Club’s (MAC) list of potential award winners, and just one of five from the Big 12 conference. The Ontario, Canada native led Missouri in scoring last season with 26 points en route to earning Soccer Buzz All-America fourth team honors and All-Big 12 First Team accolades. Bonnick was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2007 after recording 32 points on 11 goals and 10 assists, all Missouri freshman records.
So far this season, Bonnick is third on the team in points with 18, notching seven goals and four assists in 2009.
THREE TIGERS INVITED TO US U-23’s
Pfeiffer, Wagner, and Collins all received call-ups to travel to England with the United States U-23 National Team in July for two games against the English U-23 National Team and a match versus the Reading women’s club. Only Wagner was able to accept the invitation, and the senior co-captain appeared in all three matches for the USA while abroad. Wagner led a Tigers’ defense that set school records in 2008 with 12 shutouts and a 0.80 goals against average, earning Soccer Buzz All-Central region second team and NSCAA/adidas All-Central region third team honors.
NEW LOOK VIDEO BOARD AT WALTON
Mizzou soccer spectators will enjoy a new video board and sound system at Walton Stadium this season. Installed by Daktronics, Inc., the 21 feet by 12 feet, full color display is one of four new state-of-the-art displays to be added to Missouri athletic facilities. The board will be display match statistics, marketing information, and live scores, with video features expected to be added as the season progresses.
MIZZOU SOCCER ONLINE
In addition to the official news, photos, statistics, and more available on mutigers.com, the Missouri soccer program is complementing the team’s coverage for all those who follow Mizzou Soccer Online. The supplementary sites include a Twitter account for instant updates on the team, a YouTube channel to post match footage and media coverage, a Facebook Fan Page for news and information, ThisIsMizzouSoccer.com which features a team blog, podcasts, and much more. The Tigers are excited to continue highlighting their program in the national spotlight via all of these resources and to provide up close and timely coverage of the team for fans, alumni, and recruits.
