Aug. 23, 2008
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COLUMBIA, Mo. No. 17 Illinois knocked in a goal in the fourth minute of overtime to earn a 2-1 victory over the No. 22 University of Missouri soccer team in the season opener on Saturday night at Walton Stadium.
Just 3:04 into the overtime session, Illinois' Laura Knutson played a ball up to Chichi Nweke, who dribbled into the box and slotted a shot to the left of Mizzou Tasha Dittamore and into the far post for the game-winner.
Dittamore recorded seven saves in net for Mizzou, including three in succession in the second half.
Illinois controlled the game early on and got on the board first in the seventh minute when Nweke crossed a ball from the far endline across the box to Marti Desjarlais, who one-timed the ball past Dittamore.
Down 1-0 to start the second half, Missouri struck back in the 48th minute to knot the score at 1-1. Junior Michelle Collins settled a cross from classmate Bree Thornton and ripped a low shot to the left corner of the net from seven yards out.
Dittamore stopped three consecutive shots from the Fighting Illini in the 80th minute to thwart Illinois' best scoring opportunity in the second half. The keeper knocked away a shot from Marissa Mykines, sprawled out to punch away a second chance from Mykines and managed to stop a third successive shot from Jessica Levitt before the ball was cleared by the Mizzou defense.
Less than a minute later, Illinois looked poised to strike again with Dittamore caught off her line but junior Crystal Wagner committed a foul just outside the box to halt the attack. The Illini's ensuring free kick sailed high over the net to end the scoring chance.
Mizzou nearly found the net in the 86th minute when freshman Kendra Colllins made a run to a pass from freshman Jessie Crabtree but Illinois' goalie converged on the ball before Kendra Collins could get off a shot.
Neither team broke through in the final four minutes, sending the contest into overtime.
The Fighting Illini outshot the Tigers 17-13.
Missouri welcomes Southeastern Conference foe Auburn to Walton Stadium for a 6:30 p.m. contest on Friday, Aug. 29 in Mizzou Soccer Goes Green Day. Fans will receive free admission to the match if they bring used cell phones, VHS tapes, DVDs, ink cartridges and rechargable cell phone and camera batteries to be recycled.
