This week at Southern: Fall seasons set to open

Many of the fall sports teams at Missouri Southern will have their first taste of competition this week in the 2003 season.

Football, volleyball and women’s soccer all have contests that count this week (Aug. 25-31), while men’s soccer will host an exhibition as its final tune-up for the regular season.

FOOTBALL – The Lions open the 2003 season at Bacone with a 7 p.m. kickoff on Thursday (Aug. 28) in Muskogee, Okla. Southern returns six starters on both sides of the ball and will be looking to build on last year’s 5-6 season.

Offensively, the Lions are faced with the task of replacing record-setting quarterback Josh Chapman, a 2002 All-America. That task falls to someone who is no stranger to Lions’ fans; senior Kokain Mothershed moves over from the defensive side to the offense, taking over as the Southern quarterback. The Lions also return three-fifths of their offensive line and could have one of the best fleets of receivers –– highlighted by seniors Josh Combs and Chris Turner and juniors Craig Winfrey and DeMarcus Mathes –– in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

Defensively, Southern should have a stout line anchored by senior Arley Smith. The linebacker corps have been revamped, with senior Josh Elmer moving over to the middle. Depth has been added to the secondary, where senior Ryan Burpo and junior T.J. Onstott are returning starters.

After a week off during the week of Sept. 1-6, the Lions will host Northeastern State (Okla.) on the brand new turf at Fred G. Hughes Stadium. Southern plans to honor the Lion Pride Restoration Project’s major donors at the Sept. 13 affair with NSU. The Lion Pride Restoration Project was the drive that raised funds for the more than $800,000 in improvements at Hughes Stadium.

VOLLEYBALL –– Southern begins its 2003 volleyball campaign on Saturday (Aug. 30) when it takes on Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

Seniors Kym Mutert, Amy Little and Lindsey Mason are among five returning starters for the Lions off a 2002 team that finished 12-16 overall. Southern ended its latest season on a high by winning two of its last three matches, including a five-game slugfest over eventual national runner-up Truman. In all, MSSU returns six seniors in 2003.

The Lions should also benefit from the addition of six newcomers. Junior Jackie Gallagher, who sat out the ‘02 campaign after transferring from the University of Idaho, should give the Southern lineup some additional punch.

After its match on Aug. 30, Southern won’t be back in action until Sept. 6, when Henderson State (Ark.) comes to town for the Lions’ home opener.

WOMEN’S SOCCER –– The Trevor Wachsman era begins on Friday (Aug. 29), the Lions head to Bolivar for a neutral site game with Minnesota State-Mankato. Southern returns eight starters from last year’s team that finished third in the MIAA with a 7-3-2 record, and 11-5-2 overall.

Seniors Jessie Noid and Stephanie Doerr, along with junior Kaysie Griffin highlight the list of returnees for Southern. Griffin tallied seven goals and four assists last season, finishing second on the Southern squad with 18 points.

Wachsman has brought in several newcomers, including junior transfer Tara Reisner, who scored 26 goals in two years at Lee’s McRae (N.C.).

After their contest with MSU-Mankato, Southern starts conference play on Sept. 6 when it hosts Washburn, a brand new program, at 2 p.m.

MEN’S SOCCER –– While one of the new soccer coaches at Southern debuts this week, Lions’ fans will have to wait a bit for the second to coach his first collegiate match. Missouri Southern alum Kiley Cirillo leads his Lions into action on Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. in a home match against Graceland (Iowa).

But the MSSU contingent will be playing an exhibition this week at Hal Bodon Field, playing its annual alumni game at 7 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 30).

Cirillo has many starters back for the 2003 season, including the team’s top two scorers in juniors Lucas Silva and Seamus O’Donnell. Both netted five goals apiece last season as the young Lions went 5-10-1 over a grueling schedule that saw the team play several of the top NCAA Division II squads.

CROSS COUNTRY –– The Lion cross country teams don’t open their 2003 schedule until Sept. 5, when they run at the University of Arkansas. Then comes the annual Southern Stampede on Sept. 20.

The men’s team lost part of the core of its 2002 team that captured MSSU’s third conference title in as many years. But senior Magnus Holmstrom figures to lead Southern, the preseason conference favorite, in 2003. Head coach Tom Rutledge also has several newcomers that should play prominent roles, including freshman Brian Roe, of in-state power West Plains High School.

On the women’s side, head coach Patty Vavra has a host of top performers back this year, topped by junior Ashley Caffey and senior Jen Noelken. Both were All-MIAA performers last season, and Caffey was Southern’s top runner in all but one meet.

MEN’S GOLF –– After finishing second in the MIAA yearly standings in 2002-03 and winning the conference tournament last spring, the Lions return to the links this fall on Sept. 7 at the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Tournament.

Southern returns a team that lost several of its top performers from the ‘02-03 campaign, but it should still have a good nucleus in juniors Danny Sinksen and Andrew Koehler.

Five tournaments are on the schedule for the Lions this fall, including MIAA events at Truman and here in Joplin. Missouri Southern hosts its fall invitational on Oct. 6-7 at Loma Linda.

WOMEN’S TENNIS –– Head coach Jane Posch’s Lions open their 2003 fall schedule on Sept. 6 at the MIAA Fall Tournament, an exhibition tourney, in St. Joseph. Southern has three tennis tournaments on the schedule for this fall, including a Sept. 13 date at Southwest Baptist (MSSU plays Drury and SBU) and Oct. 3-5 at the ITA Tournament in Maryville.

Junior Lacey McMunn and senior Sheryl Posch are among Southern’s top returnees in 2003-04. McMunn and Posch were an all-conference doubles team, and McMunn was also a first-team selection at No. 2 singles.

The Missouri Southern sports information office plans to issue a weekly release, similar to this one, in 2003-04 highlighting all of the teams in season at the University.


	Aug. 25, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE This week at Southern: Fall seasons set to open Most Southern fall sports to be in action Many of the fall sports teams at Missouri Southern will have their first taste of competition this week in the 2003 season. Football, volleyball and women’s soccer all have contests that count this week (Aug. 25-31), while men’s soccer will host an exhibition as its final tune-up for the regular season. FOOTBALL – The Lions open the 2003 season at Bacone with a 7 p.m. kickoff on Thursday (Aug. 28) in Muskogee, Okla. Southern returns six starters on both sides of the ball and will be looking to build on last year’s 5-6 season. Offensively, the Lions are faced with the task of replacing record-setting quarterback Josh Chapman, a 2002 All-America. That task falls to someone who is no stranger to Lions’ fans; senior Kokain Mothershed moves over from the defensive side to the offense, taking over as the Southern quarterback. The Lions also return three-fifths of their offensive line and could have one of the best fleets of receivers –– highlighted by seniors Josh Combs and Chris Turner and juniors Craig Winfrey and DeMarcus Mathes –– in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Defensively, Southern should have a stout line anchored by senior Arley Smith. The linebacker corps have been revamped, with senior Josh Elmer moving over to the middle. Depth has been added to the secondary, where senior Ryan Burpo and junior T.J. Onstott are returning starters. After a week off during the week of Sept. 1-6, the Lions will host Northeastern State (Okla.) on the brand new turf at Fred G. Hughes Stadium. Southern plans to honor the Lion Pride Restoration Project’s major donors at the Sept. 13 affair with NSU. The Lion Pride Restoration Project was the drive that raised funds for the more than $800,000 in improvements at Hughes Stadium. VOLLEYBALL –– Southern begins its 2003 volleyball campaign on Saturday (Aug. 30) when it takes on Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Seniors Kym Mutert, Amy Little and Lindsey Mason are among five returning starters for the Lions off a 2002 team that finished 12-16 overall. Southern ended its latest season on a high by winning two of its last three matches, including a five-game slugfest over eventual national runner-up Truman. In all, MSSU returns six seniors in 2003. The Lions should also benefit from the addition of six newcomers. Junior Jackie Gallagher, who sat out the ‘02 campaign after transferring from the University of Idaho, should give the Southern lineup some additional punch. After its match on Aug. 30, Southern won’t be back in action until Sept. 6, when Henderson State (Ark.) comes to town for the Lions’ home opener. WOMEN’S SOCCER –– The Trevor Wachsman era begins on Friday (Aug. 29), the Lions head to Bolivar for a neutral site game with Minnesota State-Mankato. Southern returns eight starters from last year’s team that finished third in the MIAA with a 7-3-2 record, and 11-5-2 overall. Seniors Jessie Noid and Stephanie Doerr, along with junior Kaysie Griffin highlight the list of returnees for Southern. Griffin tallied seven goals and four assists last season, finishing second on the Southern squad with 18 points. Wachsman has brought in several newcomers, including junior transfer Tara Reisner, who scored 26 goals in two years at Lee’s McRae (N.C.). After their contest with MSU-Mankato, Southern starts conference play on Sept. 6 when it hosts Washburn, a brand new program, at 2 p.m. MEN’S SOCCER –– While one of the new soccer coaches at Southern debuts this week, Lions’ fans will have to wait a bit for the second to coach his first collegiate match. Missouri Southern alum Kiley Cirillo leads his Lions into action on Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. in a home match against Graceland (Iowa). But the MSSU contingent will be playing an exhibition this week at Hal Bodon Field, playing its annual alumni game at 7 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 30). Cirillo has many starters back for the 2003 season, including the team’s top two scorers in juniors Lucas Silva and Seamus O’Donnell. Both netted five goals apiece last season as the young Lions went 5-10-1 over a grueling schedule that saw the team play several of the top NCAA Division II squads. CROSS COUNTRY –– The Lion cross country teams don’t open their 2003 schedule until Sept. 5, when they run at the University of Arkansas. Then comes the annual Southern Stampede on Sept. 20. The men’s team lost part of the core of its 2002 team that captured MSSU’s third conference title in as many years. But senior Magnus Holmstrom figures to lead Southern, the preseason conference favorite, in 2003. Head coach Tom Rutledge also has several newcomers that should play prominent roles, including freshman Brian Roe, of in-state power West Plains High School. On the women’s side, head coach Patty Vavra has a host of top performers back this year, topped by junior Ashley Caffey and senior Jen Noelken. Both were All-MIAA performers last season, and Caffey was Southern’s top runner in all but one meet. MEN’S GOLF –– After finishing second in the MIAA yearly standings in 2002-03 and winning the conference tournament last spring, the Lions return to the links this fall on Sept. 7 at the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Tournament. Southern returns a team that lost several of its top performers from the ‘02-03 campaign, but it should still have a good nucleus in juniors Danny Sinksen and Andrew Koehler. Five tournaments are on the schedule for the Lions this fall, including MIAA events at Truman and here in Joplin. Missouri Southern hosts its fall invitational on Oct. 6-7 at Loma Linda. WOMEN’S TENNIS –– Head coach Jane Posch’s Lions open their 2003 fall schedule on Sept. 6 at the MIAA Fall Tournament, an exhibition tourney, in St. Joseph. Southern has three tennis tournaments on the schedule for this fall, including a Sept. 13 date at Southwest Baptist (MSSU plays Drury and SBU) and Oct. 3-5 at the ITA Tournament in Maryville. Junior Lacey McMunn and senior Sheryl Posch are among Southern’s top returnees in 2003-04. McMunn and Posch were an all-conference doubles team, and McMunn was also a first-team selection at No. 2 singles. The Missouri Southern sports information office plans to issue a weekly release, similar to this one, in 2003-04 highlighting all of the teams in season at the University.