Southern Athletics This Week3

Southern Athletics This Week

Sept. 8, 2003 Volume 1, Issue 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Football Lions meet Northeastern State in home opener

After two weeks off, the Lions will return to the field this Saturday (Sept. 13) in their home opener against Northeastern State (Okla.). NSU, like Southern, will bring an 0-1 record into the contest. The Redmen are coming off a 31-20 loss on Saturday (Sept. 6) to Arkansas Tech.

The home opener represents Major Donor Recognition Night at Fred G. Hughes Stadium as the Lions will play their first game on the new Sprinturf surface. Major donors to the Lion Pride Restoration Project, which raised funds for the resurfacing of the football field and track, will be honored at halftime.

Northeastern State leads 9-6 over the Lions in the all-time series, which dates back to 1968. NSU jumped to a 7-0 lead in the series but Southern has won six of the last eight vs. the Redmen, including a 38-7 rout last year in Tahlequah and a 24-0 decision in a lightning-shortened 2001 affair in Joplin. While NSU has gotten victories in two of the last three played in Tahlequah, the Lions are 3-4 all-time, including three straight wins, at home vs. the Redmen.

The Lions will see the return of sophomore center Jason Stumbo to the lineup, as he missed the season opener at Bacone with a knee injury. However, junior guard Adam Clements is out with a knee injury and will be replaced in the starting lineup by sophomore Lee Hubbard.

Host Northeastern State led 7-3 at halftime on Saturday over Arkansas Tech, but committed seven turnovers and saw a blocked field goal returned 95 yards for a touchdown.

Volleyball team moves to 2-0; hosts Arkansas Tech on Tuesday

The Lions moved to 2-0 on the young season with a 3-1 victory on Saturday (Sept. 6) over Henderson State (Ark.). Four players reached double-figure kills for Southern, led by junior Jackie Gallagher with 16. Seniors Amy Little, Jessie Puszewski and Lindsey Mason ended with 15, 14 and 10, respectively. Senior setter Kym Mutert handed out 54 assists (13.50 per game) as the Lions out-hit the Lady Reddies .248 to .034.

On this week’s slate for Southern is a home match with Arkansas Tech on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Then it’s off to Conway, Ark. and the University of Central Arkansas for the first of two regular season tournaments schedule for the Lions this year. Missouri Southern meets Bellarmine (Ky.) and Midwestern State (Texas) on Friday (Sept. 12) and returns on Saturday (Sept. 13) to meet West Florida and the host school, Central Arkansas.

In the weekend victory over Henderson, Mutert moved to within 229 assists of moving into the Lions career lead. Little, one of three Southern players with a double-double in kills and digs, had her 36th career match with a double-double and her second in as many outings this season.

Women’s Soccer evens record at 1-1; faces Nebraska-Omaha Friday

Head coach Trevor Wachsman collected his first career head coaching win on Saturday afternoon as Missouri Southern scored a 3-1 victory over visiting Washburn in the MIAA opener for the Lions. The win evened Southern’s record at 1-1 overall.

Senior Elisa Bryant charted her first goal of the season and put Southern on top 1-0 with less than four minutes gone in the contest. Junior Tera Reisner got the assist on the goal. With nearly 29 minutes elapsed, senior Amber Phipps scored what turned out to be the eventual game-winner off assists from Bryant and Kaysie Griffin. Griffin also assisted on Samantha Lee’s score that came six minutes into the second half.

With the Lions in front 3-0, the Lady Blues’ lone score came in the 59th minute on a free kick by Meagan Horvath.

This week, Southern will play at Rockhurst on Wednesday (Sept. 10) and host Nebraska-Omaha (4-0) on Friday (Sept. 12). UNO was ranked No. 2 in the NSCAA/adidas Preseason Top 25. A new NSCAA top 25 is due out today.

Men’s Soccer Lions return from Florida trip

After a long trip to Florida, the men’s soccer team is on its way back to Missouri. The Lions were stranded in Atlanta, Ga., on Sunday and were scheduled to be in Fayetteville, Ark., this afternoon.

The Lions originally had a game slated for Friday at Tampa (Fla.), but inclement weather conditions forced the game’s postponement to Saturday. The Spartans held the Lions to just four shots in the game, and made their 4-0 lead at halftime stand up for the victory.

On Sunday, the results weren’t much better for coach Kiley Cirillo’s charges. After taking a 1-0 lead into the half, Southern surrendered six second-half goals and fell 6-1. Senior Lance Juett notched the lone MSSU tally off an assist from Adam Skiermont.

Up next, the Lions are slated to continue on the road with a 7 p.m. game set for Friday (Sept. 12) at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. MSSU returns home for a Sunday (Sept. 14) matchup with Quincy (Ill.). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Cross Country teams open at Arkansas

Both Missouri Southern cross country contingents opened their 2003 seasons on Friday at the University of Arkansas’ Fayetteville Invitational. Southern was the only non-Division I team in the three-team meet. On the men’s side, the Lions got a fifth-place finish from senior Magnus Holmstrom, who completed the 4.1-mile course in 20:31.61. Craig Rhoads was Southern’s No. 2 man and came in with an 11th-place finish in 21:10.83. Paul Koehler was 13th in 21:29.45. Arkansas won the meet, followed by Tulsa and MSSU.

On the women’s side, junior Ashley Caffey was the Lions top finisher as she placed 12th with a time of 18:48.95 over the 5K course. Sophomore Megan Russell (18:49.94) was 13th, followed by senior Jen Noelken (19:02.53) in 14th. Arkansas also took first in the women’s meet with a perfect score of 15. Tulsa was second with 53.

Southern’s men and women will be back in action on Saturday (Sept. 20) when they host the Southern Stampede.

Golf schedule under way today

The Missouri Southern men’s golf team opened the fall portion of the 2003 schedule today by competing in the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Invitational. The tournament is just scheduled to be a one-day tourney at Miami (Okla.) Country Club.

Next week, the Lions continue their fall schedule when they venture north to Truman State in Kirksville, Mo. for the first MIAA-sanctioned event of the fall. That tournament will be held on Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 15-16).

Tennis team continues play this week

Southern opened its fall season on Saturday (Sept. 6) at the MIAA Fall Classic in St. Joseph. The Lions lost only two matches in the doubles tournament over the course of the entire day. The team of Sheryl Posch and Lacey McMunn went 4-0 on the day. The all-freshman team of Kristin Meschede and Barb Gombosi went 3-0, as did the team of Amy Stredney and Erin Fritz.

Southern heads back to the court on Saturday (Sept. 13) at Southwest Baptist for a pair of contests. The Lions will meet Drury at 12 noon and face off with the hosts at 4 p.m.

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.


	Southern Athletics This Week Sept. 8, 2003 Volume 1, Issue 3 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Football Lions meet Northeastern State in home opener After two weeks off, the Lions will return to the field this Saturday (Sept. 13) in their home opener against Northeastern State (Okla.). NSU, like Southern, will bring an 0-1 record into the contest. The Redmen are coming off a 31-20 loss on Saturday (Sept. 6) to Arkansas Tech. The home opener represents Major Donor Recognition Night at Fred G. Hughes Stadium as the Lions will play their first game on the new Sprinturf surface. Major donors to the Lion Pride Restoration Project, which raised funds for the resurfacing of the football field and track, will be honored at halftime. Northeastern State leads 9-6 over the Lions in the all-time series, which dates back to 1968. NSU jumped to a 7-0 lead in the series but Southern has won six of the last eight vs. the Redmen, including a 38-7 rout last year in Tahlequah and a 24-0 decision in a lightning-shortened 2001 affair in Joplin. While NSU has gotten victories in two of the last three played in Tahlequah, the Lions are 3-4 all-time, including three straight wins, at home vs. the Redmen. The Lions will see the return of sophomore center Jason Stumbo to the lineup, as he missed the season opener at Bacone with a knee injury. However, junior guard Adam Clements is out with a knee injury and will be replaced in the starting lineup by sophomore Lee Hubbard. Host Northeastern State led 7-3 at halftime on Saturday over Arkansas Tech, but committed seven turnovers and saw a blocked field goal returned 95 yards for a touchdown. Volleyball team moves to 2-0; hosts Arkansas Tech on Tuesday The Lions moved to 2-0 on the young season with a 3-1 victory on Saturday (Sept. 6) over Henderson State (Ark.). Four players reached double-figure kills for Southern, led by junior Jackie Gallagher with 16. Seniors Amy Little, Jessie Puszewski and Lindsey Mason ended with 15, 14 and 10, respectively. Senior setter Kym Mutert handed out 54 assists (13.50 per game) as the Lions out-hit the Lady Reddies .248 to .034. On this week’s slate for Southern is a home match with Arkansas Tech on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Then it’s off to Conway, Ark. and the University of Central Arkansas for the first of two regular season tournaments schedule for the Lions this year. Missouri Southern meets Bellarmine (Ky.) and Midwestern State (Texas) on Friday (Sept. 12) and returns on Saturday (Sept. 13) to meet West Florida and the host school, Central Arkansas. In the weekend victory over Henderson, Mutert moved to within 229 assists of moving into the Lions career lead. Little, one of three Southern players with a double-double in kills and digs, had her 36th career match with a double-double and her second in as many outings this season. Women’s Soccer evens record at 1-1; faces Nebraska-Omaha Friday Head coach Trevor Wachsman collected his first career head coaching win on Saturday afternoon as Missouri Southern scored a 3-1 victory over visiting Washburn in the MIAA opener for the Lions. The win evened Southern’s record at 1-1 overall. Senior Elisa Bryant charted her first goal of the season and put Southern on top 1-0 with less than four minutes gone in the contest. Junior Tera Reisner got the assist on the goal. With nearly 29 minutes elapsed, senior Amber Phipps scored what turned out to be the eventual game-winner off assists from Bryant and Kaysie Griffin. Griffin also assisted on Samantha Lee’s score that came six minutes into the second half. With the Lions in front 3-0, the Lady Blues’ lone score came in the 59th minute on a free kick by Meagan Horvath. This week, Southern will play at Rockhurst on Wednesday (Sept. 10) and host Nebraska-Omaha (4-0) on Friday (Sept. 12). UNO was ranked No. 2 in the NSCAA/adidas Preseason Top 25. A new NSCAA top 25 is due out today. Men’s Soccer Lions return from Florida trip After a long trip to Florida, the men’s soccer team is on its way back to Missouri. The Lions were stranded in Atlanta, Ga., on Sunday and were scheduled to be in Fayetteville, Ark., this afternoon. The Lions originally had a game slated for Friday at Tampa (Fla.), but inclement weather conditions forced the game’s postponement to Saturday. The Spartans held the Lions to just four shots in the game, and made their 4-0 lead at halftime stand up for the victory. On Sunday, the results weren’t much better for coach Kiley Cirillo’s charges. After taking a 1-0 lead into the half, Southern surrendered six second-half goals and fell 6-1. Senior Lance Juett notched the lone MSSU tally off an assist from Adam Skiermont. Up next, the Lions are slated to continue on the road with a 7 p.m. game set for Friday (Sept. 12) at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. MSSU returns home for a Sunday (Sept. 14) matchup with Quincy (Ill.). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday. Cross Country teams open at Arkansas Both Missouri Southern cross country contingents opened their 2003 seasons on Friday at the University of Arkansas’ Fayetteville Invitational. Southern was the only non-Division I team in the three-team meet. On the men’s side, the Lions got a fifth-place finish from senior Magnus Holmstrom, who completed the 4.1-mile course in 20:31.61. Craig Rhoads was Southern’s No. 2 man and came in with an 11th-place finish in 21:10.83. Paul Koehler was 13th in 21:29.45. Arkansas won the meet, followed by Tulsa and MSSU. On the women’s side, junior Ashley Caffey was the Lions top finisher as she placed 12th with a time of 18:48.95 over the 5K course. Sophomore Megan Russell (18:49.94) was 13th, followed by senior Jen Noelken (19:02.53) in 14th. Arkansas also took first in the women’s meet with a perfect score of 15. Tulsa was second with 53. Southern’s men and women will be back in action on Saturday (Sept. 20) when they host the Southern Stampede. Golf schedule under way today The Missouri Southern men’s golf team opened the fall portion of the 2003 schedule today by competing in the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Invitational. The tournament is just scheduled to be a one-day tourney at Miami (Okla.) Country Club. Next week, the Lions continue their fall schedule when they venture north to Truman State in Kirksville, Mo. for the first MIAA-sanctioned event of the fall. That tournament will be held on Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 15-16). Tennis team continues play this week Southern opened its fall season on Saturday (Sept. 6) at the MIAA Fall Classic in St. Joseph. The Lions lost only two matches in the doubles tournament over the course of the entire day. The team of Sheryl Posch and Lacey McMunn went 4-0 on the day. The all-freshman team of Kristin Meschede and Barb Gombosi went 3-0, as did the team of Amy Stredney and Erin Fritz. Southern heads back to the court on Saturday (Sept. 13) at Southwest Baptist for a pair of contests. The Lions will meet Drury at 12 noon and face off with the hosts at 4 p.m. 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.