The Missouri Western soccer team fell 2-0 against the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs in the first game of the 2012 season on Friday evening. Western managed just two shots as they fall to 0-1 on the season.

The Missouri Western soccer team struggled offensively in the first half getting just one shot which was on goal by Teddie Serna. Griffon goalkeeper Kelly Voigts made two saves on three shots on goal.

The Bulldogs had five shots with Jessica Carbonara and Paige Doherty leading the way with two apiece. Doherty gave the Bulldogs the lead in the first half when she headed one past Voigts at the 27:56 mark of the first half. The assist went to Josie Price.

The Bulldogs held the Griffons to just one shot in the second half while the Bulldogs tacked on one more goal giving them the 2-0 victory. Southwestern Oklahoma State scored its second goal in the 58th minute when Jessica Carbonara put one in the bottom right of the goal.

The Bulldogs improve to 1-0 as they had eight corner kicks to the Griffons zero.

Missouri Western will play again on Sunday, September 2 against the East Central Tigers at 2:30 pm in Spratt Stadium. East Central fell 1-0 against the Emporia State Hornets in the first game of the Drury Inn Classic Friday evening.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western men’s basketball coach Tom Smith has announced the addition of five student-athletes the 2012-2013 roster. The Griffons welcome junior college transfers Dzenan Mrkaljevic of Fishers, Ind. (Kankakee Community College), Alfreeman Flowers of Milwaukee, Wis. (Ellsworth CC), Cedric Clinkscales of Anderson, S.C. (Roane State CC), Kalvin Balque of Alexandria, La. (Kansas City Kansas CC) and Adarius Fulton of Lithonia, Ga. (St. John’s River CC) to next year’s squad.

Mrkaljevic, a 6-8 forward from Fishers, Ind. transfers to Missouri Western from Kankakee Community College out of Kankakee, Ill. He played his high school basketball at Hamilton Southeastern. He is originally from Bijeljina, Bosina. Last season he played in 32 games shooting the long ball extremely well making 42.2-percent (57-of-135) from beyond the arc. He averaged 7.6 points and three rebounds per game. He made 56.9-percent of his field goals making 86. He plans on majoring in sports management at Western.

Flowers, a 6-5 forward from Milwaukee, Wis. transfers to the Griffons from Ellsworth Community College out of Iowa Falls, Iowa. He played his high school basketball at John Marshall. Last season he played in 31 games scoring 14.5 points per game and snaring 7.9 rebounds per contest. He had 246 rebounds with 118 coming on the offensive end of the floor. He made 36 three point shots and 168 total field goals. For his efforts he was a DII first team All-Region selection. He plans on majoring in social work at Western.

Clinkscales, a 6-7 forward from Anderson, S.C. transfers to Missouri Western from Roane State Community College out of Harriman, Tenn. He played his high school basketball at T.L Hannah. Last season he played in 26 games averaging 13.6 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game. He had 219 rebounds with 74 coming of the offensive end of the floor. He made 57.6-percent (144-250) of his field goals and 41-percent (9-22) of his long range shots. He is also an unselfish player dishing out 2.27 (59) assists per game. He was a first team All-TCCAA (Tennessee Community College Athletic Association) selection this past season. He is undecided on a major at Western.

Balque, a 6-3 wing from Alexandria, La. transfers to the Griffons from Kansas City Kansas CC. Last season he played in 25 games averaging 11.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He had 100 rebounds on the year with 34 coming on the offensive end of the floor. Of his 109 field goals made 25 of them were from beyond the arc.

Fulton, a 6-2 guard from Lithonia, Ga. transfers to Missouri Western from St. John’s River CC in Florida. He played his high school basketball at Miller Grove HS where he led the Wolverines to back-to-back Class AAAA State Championships in 2009 and 2010. He made 57-percent of his long range shots during his senior season. During his career at St. John’s River he scored 721 points making 130 long range shots while dishing out 357 assists and snaring 213 rebounds. For his efforts he was named first team All-Mid Florida Conference in 2011 and 2012. He was also named to the All-Region team in 2012.

“We are extremely pleased with our recruiting efforts during the spring and summer,” commented Head Coach Tom Smith. “We have addressed most of our short comings from last year. We have got more size and strength at the guard position with Balque and Fulton. On the inside we have increased mobility with Flowers and Clinkscales. We have also added an inside out player who can shoot the “3” in Mrkaljevic. There is no doubt we will be much improved in 2012-2013 and I am excited to begin practice with this group” commented Smith.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western men’s head coach Tom Smith and women’s head coach Rob Edmisson have released their 2012-2013 basketball schedules.

There will be 17 home regular season dates which includes nine home MIAA doubleheaders. The Griffons open up MIAA play at home on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 hosting the Truman State Bulldogs. Game times are set for 5:30/7:30 pm.

Once again this season the Saturday MIAA doubleheaders will be at 1:30/3:30 pm with the Wednesday doubleheaders starting at 5:30/7:30 pm.

The Griffon men open up exhibition play in Springfield, Mo. on October 30 against Missouri State University while the women will take on Livin the Dream on November 2 in St. Joseph, Mo. with a time to still be determined.

The Missouri Western men open up home action on November 13 against Sterling College (Kan.) at 7:00 pm and host the 21st Annual Hillyard Tip-Off Classic on November 16-17. Western will take on William Jewell on the 16th and Rockhurst on the 17th. Both games are scheduled to tip at 7:30 pm. The Griffons last non-conference home game is on December 1 at 7:30 pm against the University of Illinois-Springfield.

The Griffon women open up home action against Metropolitan State University out of Denver, Colo. on November 10 at 6:30 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse. The Griffons two other home non-conference games are against Quincy University on November 27 and Rockhurst University on December 1st. The Quincy time is still to be determined while the Rockhurst time will be at 5:30 pm.

The MIAA Tournament will once against be held in Kansas City, Mo. at Municipal Auditorium. This years dates are March 7-10, 2013.

Click here for the complete men’s schedule.

Click here for the complete women’s schedule.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western State University Griffons were ranked No. 16 in the Beyond Sports College Network Preseason Division II Poll which was released on Tuesday. Missouri Western opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 30 against the University of Central Missouri at 6 p.m. in Spratt Stadium. The Griffons were ranked No. 18 in the AFCA Preseason Poll which was released Monday.

The Griffons finished the 2011 season tying a school-record nine wins going 9-3 hosting their first ever NCAA Playoff game on November 19th against rival Northwest Missouri State University . The Griffons finished the regular season tying a school record with seven straight victories.

Defending national champion Pittsburg State was picked 1st while Northwest Missouri was picked No. 3. The Washburn Ichabods were picked 18th while Griffons week one opponent Central Missouri finished 23rd in the rankings.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Three Missouri Western sports have added graduate assistants to its coaching staff for the next two seasons. Women’s soccer, women’s basketball and men’s basketball have individuals who will be working on their masters degree while helping coach the next couple of seasons.

Women’s basketball coach Rob Edmisson has added Tiffany Goldwire to his staff. Goldwire is no stranger to Edmisson as she played at Oklahoma City University for two seasons under Coach Edmisson including last season’s national championship team.

“Tiffany is with out a doubt one of the highest energy people I have been around,” commented Edmisson. “She has a great knowledge of the game for a young coach. Having played for me and having been on our National championship team will be a huge asset in our staff implementing our philosophy here.”

Goldwire, originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma played her high school basketball at Del City (Okla.) before playing two season of junior college basketball at Northern-Enid. She majored in kinesiology at Oklahoma City and is the daughter of Bennie and Tami Goldwire. Both her parents played basketball in college, with her father playing at Oklahoma and mother at Phillips.

Men’s basketball Coach Tom Smith has added Anthony Medina to his staff. Medina, originally from Conroe, Texas, played his high school basketball at The Woodlands High School before playing at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas under Coach Smith’s son, Todd.

“Anthony Medina will give us a recruiting base in the Houston, Texas, area that we never had before,” stated Smith. “He is a very bright young man who is anxious to get some recruiting experience.”

During his senior season Medina played in 31 games averaging 11.36 points. He shot 41.3-percent (121-293) from the field and 37.8-percent (76-201) from long range. He averaged 3.65 rebounds per game, 1.71 assists per game and 0.10 steals per game.

Women’s soccer coach Chad Edwards has added Katie Valdez to his staff for the next two seasons. This marks the first season that the soccer program will have an assistant coach. Valdez is originally from Houston, Texas, and comes to Western after playing two seasons for the Northeastern State University RiverHawks.

“I am very excited to announce Katie as the graduate assistant for our program,” commented Coach Edwards. “Katie is a great person that has a vast background of soccer and has played at a very high level. She will make an immediate impact on our program and players. I am looking forward to working with her and know that she will be a tremendous asset for the program.”

Before playing for the RiverHawks she played two seasons at Centenary College of Shreveport, La. where she was an all-Conference second team selection and all-Conference Player of the Week during her sophomore campaign. As a junior for the RiverHawks she was named to the Lone Star all-Conference first team and last year she helped her squad to an 11-4-2 record. She played in 13 games with five starts during her senior campaign. She had three goals and two assists to go along with 17 shots on goal.

She graduated in the summer with a human and health performance degree.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western State University Griffons were ranked No. 18 in the American Football Coaches Association Preseason Division II Poll which was released on Monday. Missouri Western opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 30 against the University of Central Missouri at 6 p.m. in Spratt Stadium.

The Griffons finished the 2011 season tying a school-record nine wins going 9-3 hosting their first ever NCAA Playoff game on November 19th against rival Northwest Missouri State University . The Griffons finished the regular season tying a school record with seven straight victories.

Defending national champion Pittsburg State was picked 1st while Northwest Missouri was picked No. 3. The Washburn Ichabods were picked 20th while MIAA newcomer Nebraska-Kearney received votes and finished 28th in the rankings. The Griffons week one opponent Central Missouri finished 31st in the rankings with 72 points.

2012 American Football Coaches Association Preseason Division II Coaches’ Poll – August 13, 2012

*– Ranking in final AFCA Division II Poll of 2011

Others Receiving Votes: Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 128; North Alabama, 128; Nebraska-Kearney, 122; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 100; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 96; Central Missouri, 72; Indianapolis (Ind.), 70; Mars Hill (N.C.), 57; Indiana (Pa.), 49; North Carolina-Pembroke, 47; Elizabeth City St. (N.C.), 44; Minnesota St.-Mankato, 41; Colorado School of Mines, 40; East Central (Okla.), 33; Texas A&M-Kingsville, 32; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 18; Miles (Ala.), 15; Concord (W.Va.), 9; Tarleton St. (Texas), 9; West Georgia, 9; Morehouse (Ga.), 7; Ashland (Ohio), 6; Michigan Tech, 6; Southern Connecticut St., 6; Central Washington, 4; Henderson St. (Ark.), 3; Assumption (Mass.), 2; West Virginia Wesleyan, 2; Azusa Pacific, 1; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 1; Harding (Ark.), 1.

— MWSU Sports Information —