Nov. 7, 2000

Women's Soccer Team Completes Successful Season, Wins MIAA Title

Truman vs. Central Missouri: Central Missouri fired almost twice as many shots as the Bulldogs. Junior Emily Huyck (Omaha, Neb./Westside) rose to the occasion posting 10 saves. Sophomore Anna Smith (Jefferson City, Mo.) assisted junior Melissa Miller (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) in the 24th minute for the Bulldogs first score. In the second period Smith picked up her second assist when she found junior Nicole Thorpe (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) for some extra padding as the 'Dogs cruised to a 2-0 win, clenching the MIAA title.

Truman vs. Southwest Baptist: A big first period and tough defense by the Bulldogs was entirely too much for Southwest Baptist to handle. Truman fired 27 shots through the course of the game, 12 in the first period. Senior Niki Taylor (Crestwood, Mo./Lindbergh) combined with junior Missy Ell (O'Fallon, Mo./St. Dominic) for the 'Dogs' first goal. Seven minutes later Taylor switched roles and scored off of an assist from sophomore Heather Murray (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles West). In the 30th minute Taylor capped her big game with an assist to Murray. Late in the second period, the 'Dogs put the game way out of reach when sophomore Carrie Hegenderfer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/John F. Kennedy) found senior Meredith Hartle (Mehlville, Mo.) for the fourth and final goal. Huyck had no saves as Southwest Baptist managed only two misguided shots.

Season Recap: The Bulldogs finished the 2000 season with an overall record of 15-4 and 5-0 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Truman's 15 wins tied the single-season win record.

The 'Dogs managed an 11 game winning streak, the longest in the history of women's soccer at Truman. Ten of those games were shutouts -another record breaking streak - giving the 'Dogs 1,000 consecutive minutes of flawless play. The 'Dogs broke the standing record of consecutive games with at least one goal with 14. The Bulldogs outscored their opponents 41-14 upon completing a record setting seventh consecutive winning season.

Bulldog Seniors: Taylor finished her Bulldog career with 72 shots, seven goals, 15 assists, and 29 points. Her four assists this season moved her to seventh all-time assists at Truman.

Hartle completed her Bulldog career with 15 shots, three goals, three assists, and nine points.

Brooke Stephens (Clayton, Mo.) finished her Bulldog career with 57 shots, six goals, six assists, and 18 points.

Leaders of the Pack: Miller led the team in points with 18, and assists with six. Freshman Stephanie Cepicky (St. Louis/Lindbergh) had seven team leading goals and 38 team leading shots. She also had the teams only penalty kick. Hartle had the highest shot percentage at .400. Junior Kelly Hritz had the best shot-on-goal percentage at .600.

In the Record Books: Huyck is now fourth on the single-season saves list with 100. She moved to the fifth spot on the career saves list with 216. Huyck is also fourth in career games in the net with 48.

Miller is now ninth in career shots with 97. She tied for eighth in career goals (13), ninth in career assists (11), and eighth in career points (37).

Truman in the MIAA: Truman finished first in team offense with 41 goals (2.16 g/gp) and first in team defense allowing only 14 goals (0.72 gaa). Huyck leads all MIAA goalkeepers with 0.72 gaa. Miller is sixth in scoring with 0.95 pts/gp, Cepicky is eighth with 0.79, and Taylor is ninth with 0.74.

Five of the top 10 assists-per-game positions are held by Bulldogs. Miller is third with 0.32, Smith is fourth with 0.28, sophomore Jessica Pohren (Omaha, Neb./Duchesne) and Taylor are tied for seventh with 0.21, and Hegenderfer is 10th with 0.18.

Cepicky is fifth on the goals-per-game list averaging 0.37, Miller is seventh with 0.32, and Taylor is ninth with 0.26.

Head Coach Mike Cannon: Truman head coach Mike Cannon completed his eighth season with the Bulldogs. He is the winningest coach in Truman history and was ranked 17th by percentage and 20th by victories among NCAA Division II active coaches with a 76-40-13 (.640) all-time record at the start of the 2000 campaign. He raised his record to 91-44-13 (.659) during his collegiate career at Truman.