Nov. 4, 1999
San Antonio, Texas - The University of Missouri women's soccer team advanced to the Big 12 Conference Tournament Championship match Thursday with a 2-1 victory over Iowa State at the Blossom Soccer Stadium. MU, the No. 3-seed, improved to 14-6-1 overall, 8-3-1 versus Big 12 opponents, while the No. 7-seeded Cyclones fell to 12-8-1.
Senior forward Erin Grimlsey got MU on the board with a score in the 35th minute. Grimsley collected a loose ball sent in by Becky Paulsen, beat her defender and then deposited her 16th goal of the season in the goal. The score was Grimsley's second of the tournament to go with one assist.
The Tigers held the 1-0 lead at halftime, but ISU responded in the 75th minute when Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year Kate Antongiovanni netted the tying goal on the best individual offensive play of the year by a Tiger opponent. With her back to the goal, the freshman volleyed a pass over her own head, turned and sent a shot over Missouri goalkeeper Jackie Adamec's head.
With the score tied, Missouri's team balance and attacking ability finally got the best of the Cyclones. In the 83rd minute, senior Kate Dwyer's shot deflected off an ISU defender 18 yards from the goal. Junior Amy Timmermann took the deflection and continued down the left side to the touchline where she sent a pinpoint cross to Nikki Thole. MU's All-Big 12 forward knocked in the pass for her 20th score of the year, tying her own school record for goals in a season. Thole now has three goals in two matches at the Big 12 Tournament.
The Missouri defense frustrated ISU for the final seven minutes and Missouri advanced to the championship match for the second time in as many years. The Tigers will face No. 1-seed Nebraska on Saturday night, November 6 at 7:30pm. The Cornhuskers advanced with a 7-1 win over No. 4-seed Baylor Thursday night.
The win likely clinched Missouri's spot in the NCAA Tournament. It would be the school's first appearance at the NCAA gathering. Play-by-play coverage of Saturday's match can be found at the official website of the Big 12 Conference, www.big12sports.com.
NOTES ON THE MATCH:
-Misouri is now 12-0 when leading at halftime.
-Missouri is now 13-3 when scoring the first goal.
-Senior Erin Grimsley continued to add to a career-high with her 16th goal.
-Junior Nikki Thole netted her 6th match-winning goal of the season.
-Over five Big 12 Conference Tournament matches, junior midfielder Amy Timmermann has scored three goals and assisted on four others.
-Misouri is now 5-2 all-time at the Big 12 Conference Tournament.
-Missouri tied a school record on Thursday by being whistled for 24 fouls. It was the third time this season Missouri has reached the mark.