Oct. 13, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri soccer team dispelled any Friday the 13th bad luck as the team used three second half goals to earn its first conference win with a 3-0 victory over No. 25 Colorado 3-0 Friday night at Walton Stadium. The win breaks a four-game losing streak for Missouri (9-6-0, 1-5-0 Big 12) while Colorado (7-5-2, 1-4-1 Big 12) has now lost three straight.
"We came out ready to play tonight and it showed," said Missouri Head Coach Bryan Blitz. "This was a total team effort. Every single available player played significant minutes tonight. Hopefully this win will carry over to Sunday and the rest of the regular season."
Neither team could find the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes despite Missouri's six shots on goal. The Tigers came out strong in to start the second half and got on the board in the 56th minute on freshman Kristin Andrighetto's fifth goal of the year. The freshman grabbed a loose ball in the box after a Mizzou corner kick, stepped around a Buffalo defender, and blasted a shot over Colorado goalie Kirstin Radlinski and into the top of the net from 14-yards out.
Sophomore Janelle Cordia almost put Missouri ahead by two when she one-timed a failed Colorado clear on a free kick but Radlinski managed to grab the shot.
The Buffaloes nearly tied the game in the 71st minute when Nikki Marshall unleashed a left-footed shot from the top of the box but the ball hit the post, bounced off Missouri goalie Jessica Lewis and over the end line for a Colorado corner.
Four minutes later, freshman Breanna Thornton took a shot that failed to go on goal but senior Lauren Grice knocked in the rebound from the left post. The tally was the first of Grice's career and put the Tigers on top 2-0.
Thornton gave Mizzou its final goal in the 83rd minute when she collected a pass from Andrighetto, settled the ball, and sent a shot on net that eluded Radinski and went into the left netting. The goal was the fifth of the year for Thornton while Andrighetto and junior Maddie Senkosky both earned their first career assists on the play.
"We wanted to come out hard today, especially since this our last home weekend, and we did that," said Andrighetto. "We started and finished the game really well. Coming off this win tonight we definitely want to come out hard and strong on Sunday."
Lewis earned a shutout in her first collegiate start and recorded four saves in the game.
Missouri outshot the Buffaloes 17-10 overall and 10-4 in shots on goal.
The Tigers finish off their home schedule with against Border Showdown rival Kansas on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. Prior to kickoff, Missouri will honor its four seniors in their last regular season home contest.