Oct. 8, 2006
STILLWATER, Okla. - No. 13 Oklahoma State tallied two first half goals and held on for a 2-0 victory over the Missouri soccer team on Sunday afternoon in Stillwater, Okla. The Tigers outshot the Cowgirls 17-11 and had a 6-2 corner kick advantage but could not muster a goal as the squad fell to 8-6-0 overall and 0-5-0 in the Big 12 Conference. Oklahoma State improved its record to 11-2-1 overall and 6-1-0 in league play.
The Tigers gained control of the game from the opening kick and managed to get off two shots and a corner before Oklahoma State posted an attack. However, just six minutes into the contest Mizzou went down 1-0 when Cowgirl Bridget Miller sent a cross from near the right sideline. Sophomore goalkeeper Mallory Forst looked to have a beat on the ball but it sailed over the 5-6 keeper's head and dropped into the upper left netting.
Freshman Michelle Collins missed a great opportunity in the 11th minute when she ran down a long header from senior Meggie Malm but Collins' shot trailed wide of the goal.
In the 25th minute, freshman Bianca Pritchett passed a perfect pass to fellow freshman Kristin Andrighetto, who was stationed all alone at the top of the box. Andrighetto took a touch before taking a left-footed shot but the Cowgirl goalkeeper made the save.
With seven-plus minutes remaining in the first half, senior Elyse Nikonchuk one-timed a 19-yard shot off a pass from junior Maddie Senkosky but Oklahoma State's goalie Erin Stigler got a hand on the ball for a Mizzou corner.
Cowgirl Bettina Grossman gave Oklahoma State a 2-0 advantage with 45 seconds left in the first 45 minutes. Niccole Grimaldi sent a free kick to the far post from the right sideline that Grossman headed back on net for an easy goal.
At the 70 minute mark, the Tigers nearly connected a misclear by the Cowgirl defense after a blocked shot by Andrighetto. Both Collins and freshman Breanna Thornton jumped for the loose ball but Stigler grabbed the ball before either Tiger could get a head on the ball. Oklahoma State came right back down the field in a one-on-one opportunity but redshirt freshman sprinted in and cleared the ball away.
Oklahoma State just missed its third goal when Missouri goalkeeper Jessica Lewis came off her line to run down a loose ball but the Cowgirls got a shot off on the open net. The shot bounced off the far post and sophomore Lindsay McCoy kicked away the rebound. Lewis came up big one minute later when the sophomore again came off her line to challenge a shot and made a point-blank save with her body to keep the final score 2-0.
The Tigers returns to Walton Stadium for their final home weekend of the season with games against Colorado on Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. and Kansas on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. Prior to kickoff of the Kansas game, Missouri will honor its four seniors in their last regular season home contest.