Soccer trying for a 'bounce back' approach

By Ryan Huber

Published Oct. 6, 2006

The Missouri soccer team is coming off a rough weekend at home, with two conference losses to Texas Tech and Baylor. Despite multiple scoring opportunities in each game, the Tigers only posted a single tally while giving up six goals.

With two more conference challenges from Oklahoma and Oklahoma State this week, the squad is looking to reverse its 0-3 conference record.

"Our kids had to get back to the way we were practicing at the beginning of the year," coach Bryan Blitz said. "So we had a hard week of practice. They responded well."

But not all of practice was intense soccer. Earlier this week, each member of the team was given a tennis ball with her name written on it to symbolize the 'bounce back' needed in the remaining practices.

"We wanted to bounce back from a tough weekend, and that was just a gesture to remind us all that we were ranked 11th in the country at one point, and all teams go through hard times and have to deal with it," Blitz said.

Sophomore goalkeeper Mallory Forst said she couldn't think of a better gesture.

"We didn't know how practice was going to go, and a couple of us were scared it was going to be a really hard practice," she said. "It added positive motivation for us."

But the big question still remains: Can the Tigers come back after starting 7-1?

MU was without sophomore midfielder Mo Redmond for most of the Nebraska game and all of the Baylor match because of a sprained ankle, but she will be back in the lineup against Oklahoma on Friday.

"I think we got a wake-up call from conference play," Blitz said. "We committed ourselves to each other and got back to the basics that we were successful with at the beginning of the year."