Sept. 19, 2014
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Mizzou soccer team ran its unbeaten streak to seven matches after a 3-1 win over LSU in the Southeastern Conference opener Friday night at Walton Stadium. Junior Reagan Russell scored twice and freshman Kaitlyn Clark added the first goal and assist of her career to propel Missouri to a 6-0-1 mark in their last seven contests.
Mizzou improved to 6-1-2 overall and 1-0-0 in SEC play, while LSU fell to 4-4-1 and 0-1-0.
After a scoreless first half that saw a number of chances from Mizzou, both teams found the back of the net in early in the second.
Russell and Clark combined for Missouri's first tally of the match in the 51st minute. Clark made a run down the left flank and into the box and sent a cross five yards in front of the net. The pass missed freshman Savannah Trujillo but rolled out to the right edge of the box. Russell ran onto the ball and unleashed a low shot into the left netting for a 1-0 Mizzou advantage.
LSU responded just three minutes later to knot the match at 1-1 with Jorian Baucom's fifth goal of the season.
The squads traded chances before Clark notched the first tally of her Mizzou career in the 60th minute. The freshman received the ball just over midfield and dribbled down the left side of the pitch before making a run for the box. She stopped and sent a laser over the LSU keeper to give the home team a 2-1 lead.
The visiting Tigers put more offensive pressure on Missouri but Mizzou's defense held firm to keep LSU from tying the match.
Russell preserved the Missouri win with her second tally of the match with just 10 seconds remaining on the clock. Trujillo played a ball across the box to Russell, who calmly slotted her fourth goal of the year into the net.
Missouri outshot LSU 21-8 in the match.
Redshirt senior keeper McKenzie Sauerwein made three saves in goal in the win.
Missouri return to the pitch next weekend with road matches against No. 14 South Carolina and No. 7 Florida. Mizzou takes on the Gamecocks at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT) on Friday, Sept. 26 before a game against the Gators on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT) on ESPNU.