Oct. 10, 2008
Box Score
NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Missouri women's soccer team recorded its third straight Big 12 victory with a 2-0 win over Oklahoma (1-12-0, 0-4-0) on Friday. Sophomore Alysha Bonnick and junior Michelle Collins scored goals for the Tigers, who improve to 9-3-0 overall and 4-1-0 in conference competition, and the Missouri defense earned its seventh shutout of the season.
Bonnick got the Tigers on the scoreboard early, netting her fifth of the season in the eighth minute. Moments after senior Kat Tarr's header was cleared off the line by an Oklahoma defender, junior midfielder Meghan Pfeiffer's pass found Bonnick alone in the left side of the penalty area and the striker powered the shot high inside the near post.
Missouri's lead doubled four minutes later as junior Kristin Andrighetto's corner kick was tapped in by an opportunistic Collins. With freshman Kelsey Blincow challenging the Oklahoma goalkeeper, the backpost service deflected across the goalmouth where Collins was waiting on the post for the simple finish.
Collins came close to scoring her second on the night in the 15th minute, but Sooners' senior goalkeeper Traci Dickenson, making her first college appearance, made a foot save to thwart the close range attempt.
Oklahoma's best chance of the half came with under five minutes remaining, as Kelsey Kraft's pass put Whitney Palmer in a one-on-one with Missouri goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore. Dittamore, the reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, made a sliding stop as Palmer attempted to dribble around her from 12-yards out.
The second half saw Missouri continue to apply pressure on the Oklahoma defense as the Tigers protected their lead. Mizzou added 11 shots, the best of them coming in the 52nd minute as Bonnick was blanked from eight yards out by Dickenson, to finish with 23 shots to Oklahoma's 14. The Tigers also set a school record with 12 corner kicks, one more than the previous game high.
Dittamore made two saves, but was injured in the final minute and was not credited with the shutout. Senior Mallory Forst played the final six seconds of the match in goal for Missouri.
The Tigers will carry the momentum into Sunday's 1 p.m. contest at No. 14 Oklahoma State (11-1-1, 2-1-1). The Cowgirls earned a 3-2 win against Kansas on Friday.
