Sports Shorts

By Ross Taylor

Published Nov. 9, 2007

No. 22 Tigers prepare for No. 2 Texas A&M

The No. 22-ranked MU women's soccer team looks to keep its hopes for a Big 12 title alive tonight in San Antonio in the conference semifinals against No. 2 Texas A&M.

The game is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

"They're the standard in the Big 12 right now, and we aspire to get to that level," Coach Bryan Blitz said. "We know it should be a war, like all Big 12 games are."

Both teams survived potential upsets in the first round.

The top-seeded Aggies needed penalty kicks to defeat eighth-seeded Iowa State.

Fourth-seeded Missouri survived an upset bid from fifth-seed Texas Tech, defeating the Red Raiders 4-3 in double overtime.

Missouri was the only team to defeat Texas A&M in conference play, beating the Aggies in Columbia, 3-2, in a double overtime thriller in late September.

Dittamore's status uncertain

Sophomore goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore left Wednesday's quarterfinal game against Texas Tech in overtime with an undisclosed hip injury.

Blitz said the injury was sustained when she went for a save and landed on her hip.

Blitz said Dittamore will be a game-time decision. Should Dittamore be unable to play, junior Mallory Forst would get the start.

"We feel confident with either of those guys," Blitz said.

Tigers honored for academic success

Earlier in the week, seven Missouri players were named to the Academic All-Big 12 team. Junior midfielder Janelle Cordia and junior defender Lindsay McCoy were named to the first team.

Junior midfielder Mo Redmond and junior goalkeeper Mallory Forst were named to the second team along with sophomore midfielders Kristin Andrighetto and Meghan Pfeiffer and sophomore defender Crystal Wagner.

"It's important because it goes along with the mission of the university," Blitz said. "All of our team takes pride in our academics and knows that is first and foremost."

The honor marks the second time Cordia, McCoy and Redmond have been honored by Big 12 for academics.