Sept. 9, 2007

Box Score |  Mizzou vs. Eastern Illinois 9/9/07 

Columbia, Mo. - The 23rd-ranked University of Missouri women's soccer team (4-0, 0-0 Big 12) defeated the Eastern Illinois Panthers (2-2, 0-0 Ohio Valley), 3-0, Sunday afternoon at Walton Stadium in Columbia to remain undefeated on the season. Mizzou held the Panthers to zero shots, the first time that's happened at Walton Stadium since 2001. Tiger freshman Alysha Bonnick scored the first two goals of the day, and junior Mo Redmond scored the third. Mizzou keeper Tasha Dittamore earned her second shutout in a row.

This was the most convincing victory of the year for the Tiger team, and Mizzou Head Coach Bryan Blitz was proud to see how much they learned from last Sunday's game, a 5-2 win over a Western Michigan team picked to finish last in the Mid-American Conference. Last Sunday's game was tied, 2-2, at halftime before the Tigers added three goals in the second half to escape with the win.

"To this Sunday, there was some growth. I feel that last Sunday we were not focused from the get-go," Blitz said. "And that was our goal this Sunday, to have a much better performance that we could be proud of, and make sure that we also learned from last Sunday, we are quick learners."

The Tigers apparently learned how to keep attacking the net (36 shots taken) and keep their opponent from getting any chances (zero shots given up, zero corner kicks).

Mizzou got on the board early in the match to set the tone for the entire game. In the sixth minute, Lindsay McCoy kicked it to Michelle Collins in the middle of the box, who headed it back to Bonnick about 12 yards out. Bonnick shook off her defender and shot it past EIU goalkeeper Jenny Williams for her second goal of her career, and the season.

Mizzou continued to play tough defense throughout the first half, and entered halftime with a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers came out firing in the second half, and in the sixth minute (51st of game) Bonnick scored again. Collins passed ahead to freshman Katya Hessel, who crossed it to Bonnick. Bonnick ran into it and kicked it past Williams to the near post.

The freshman from North Gower, Ontario has three goals and three assists (9 points) on the young season. After her second goal Sunday, she took a second to think about her day.

"The first goal, it didn't really hit me, Bonnick said. "But the second goal, I was on the ground for a bit, and I thought, `Oh my God, it is my second goal.' I've never scored two goals in a game in university before so I was really excited."

Redmond added a goal in the 88th minute, off a corner kick from Hessel, who earned her second assist of the game, and second of her career.

Tiger sophomore goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore earned her fourth career shutout, and her second with Mizzou in the win Sunday. Dittamore earned her first Mizzou shutout Friday (Sept. 7) in a 2-0 win over Iowa.

The Tigers will head back to the practice field this week to prepare for next weekend's games against No. 5 Stanford Friday (Sept. 14) and third-ranked Santa Clara Sunday (Sept. 16) as part of the Stanford Invitational Tournament in Stanford, Calif.

NOTES:

The last time Mizzou held a team to zero shots at Walton Stadium was Sept. 4, 2001, when the Tigers kept Indiana State shot-less in a 4-0 victory.

Sophomore Michelle Collins now has eight points on the season (3 goals, 2 assists)

With an assist on Mizzou's second goal, Lindsay McCoy earned her first point of the season.

The Tigers have outscored their opponents, 9-0, in the second half of the first four games. Overall, Mizzou has outscored its four opponents, 13-3.