Nov. 2, 2007
Lawrence, Kan. - The Kansas Jayhawks (7-9-4, 5-2-3 Big 12) defeated the 18th-ranked University of Missouri women's soccer team (12-6-0, 6-4-0 Big 12), 2-1, Friday afternoon in front of a season-high 710 fans at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex in Lawrence, Kan. With the loss, the Tigers finished the season tied with Kansas for third place in the conference with 18 points. The tie for thid ties Mizzou's highest conference finish ever, as the 1999 team also earned a third place finish. Because of Kansas' win, KU earned the No. 3 seed in the Big 12 Championship, while Mizzou is the No. 4 seed. The Tigers will face the No. 5 seed, Texas Tech, Wednesday (Nov. 7) at 1:30 p.m. in San Antonio.
The Tigers scored the game's first goal early in the first half, but Kansas answered with two of their own in the 71st and 74th minutes, to take the game.
"It was a tale of two halves, Tiger Head Coach Bryan Blitz said. "We played one of the best first halves we've played in a long time. But we played an average second half. I think that was the downfall, the 20 minute period at the end. We lost our focus for about 20 minutes in that period, and when you play away from home, or even in the Big 12, it is just something you can't do. But I think it will be a good lesson for us."
The Tigers started off the first half of Friday's game srong. Mizzou earned the game's first corner kick in the seventh minute, and almost converted on the chance. Tiger freshman Katya Hessel floated the kick to the front of the goal, where Tiger midfielder Meghan Pfeiffer jumped up and headed it towards the net, but the ball slammed off the crossbar.
Mizzou would score just about seven minutes after that, however, as Tiger sophomore forward Michelle Collins notched her 11th goal of the season. After dribbling the ball through the left side of the box, freshman Alysha Bonnick passed it to Collins in the middle of the box, about 12 yards out. Collins received the pass, and blasted a shot to the far post, to the right of Kansas goalkeeper Colleen Quinn.
In the 24th minute, Mizzou would hit the goal frame again, as Hessel banged a shot off the crossbar from about 10 yards out. The Tigers would get several more chances but would not be able to convert. Mizzou finished the first half with a 13-5 shot advantage, including a 5-1 shot on goal advantage and a 2-0 edge in corner kicks.
After a relatively quiet start to the second half, the Kansas offense came to life in the 70th minute, when the Jayhawks earned their first corner kick of the game. They converted on the opportunity to tie the game at 1-1, as Kansas freshman Katie Williams headed a Monica Dolinsky kick to the far corner of the net, past Tiger goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore for her second career goal.
The game would not stay tied long, as Williams scored the game-winning goal on Kansas' next corner kick less than four minutes later. This time, Shannon McCabe took the corner, and found Williams, who headed the ball to the far post to give Kansas a 2-1 lead.
The Tigers would put offensive pressure on Kansas after the goal, taking five more shots right up to the final minute of the game, but each of Mizzou's chances either were saved or missed the goal.
One of Mizzou's best chances came off a Kristin Andrighetto shot from about five yards out. Quinn was able to save it though, to preserve KU's lead.
Mizzou finished the game with a 21-12 shot advantage, including a 9-5 edge in shots on goal.