Nov. 7, 2007
Final Stats
San Antonio, Texas -
The 22nd-ranked University of Missouri women's soccer team (13-6-0) defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders, (7-8-2) 4-3, in the second overtime period Friday (Nov. 7) in the opening round of the Big 12 Championship at Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. With the win, the Tigers advance to the semifinals to face second-ranked Texas A&M, who tied Iowa State, 1-1, and advanced on penalty kicks Wednesday.
Tiger sophomore midfielder Kristin Andrighetto scored two goals on the day, including the game-winner in the 101st minute to send Mizzou to the second round. The Tigers had a 3-1 lead with less than 10 minutes left, when Texas Tech scored two within just 23 seconds of each other to tie the game. The contest then went into the second overtime period where Andrighetto eventually won it for Mizzou. Tiger forward Alysha Bonnick recorded the game-winning assist, as she passed it to Andrighetto from right next to the left of the goal on the end line. Andrighetto collected the pass, about 10 yards from the goal, and kicked it past Texas Tech goalkeeper Tina Rincon for her team-leading 14th goal of the season.
"We are proud of our players for gutting out a win in the first round," Tiger Head Coach Bryan Blitz said. "As you can see with game one between Texas A&M and Iowa State today, the first round is the hardest. Hats off to Texas Tech, though, and we are proud our team learned from last week and could come back today."
Texas Tech got on the board early in the game, only their second first half goal all season. In the sixth minute, Tech's Zhaleh Rezaie took a shot on goal from about five yards out, which was saved by Tiger defender Lindsay McCoy, who had covered the goal. Rezaie got the rebound, however, and put it past McCoy the second time, beating her to the far post.
The Tigers answered in the 13th minute, however, as Mizzou midfielder
Mo Redmond gathered a loose ball, and played it up to Andrighetto, who went towards the top of the box. Texas Tech goalkeeper Tina Rincon came out to challenge the play, and Andrighetto snuck it past her, tying the game at 1-1.
The Tigers kept the offensive pressure on Texas Tech all half, as they out-shot the Red Raiders, 13-5, by the end of the first 45 minutes. But Mizzou's second goal of the half did not come from a shot, instead it was an own goal. Tiger freshman Caitlin Linas crossed the ball into the box, and Tech defender Sarabeth Clopton headed it into her own goal, to give Mizzou a 2-1 lead.
Mizzou would go into halftime with that lead, and come out and add another one in the beginning of the second half. In the 49th minute, Tiger sophomore Michelle Collins headed a ball to Bonnick, who knocked it past Rincon for her 10th goal of the season. That goal gave the Tigers insurance, as they took a 3-1 lead.
But Texas Tech would score twice, in the 83rd and 84th minutes, just 23 seconds apart, to tie the game and take it into overtime. Maegan Wilber scored their first goal at the 82:57 mark. Just seconds later, Rezaie scored her second of the game, as she took a pass from Brittney Harrison and shot it to the left of a diving Tasha Dittamore from about 10 yards out.
After the goal, Dittamore exited the game and Tiger goalkeeper/forward Mallory Forst entered. Despite giving up two late goals, Dittamore had a solid day in goal, saving three shots, including a Clopton penalty kick in the 77th minute.
Forst came in and played the remainder of the game after the second goal, making one save in almost 15 minutes of play. In the last minute of the first overtime period, Clopton put a free kick on goal, that Forst caught with both hands, keeping the game tied. That would be the only shot Forst saw on goal.
13 Tigers took shots Wednesday, and four earned points.
"It has been a total team effort," Blitz said. "Everyone played and everyone made a difference."
The Tigers will play top-seed Texas A&M Friday (Nov. 9) at 5:30 p.m. at Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. Live coverage of the game is available at big12sports.com
