November 8, 1998
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - In the Big 12 Championship match Missouri went down by a 4-0 margin. In their first ever trip to the Big 12 Championship match, the Tigers showed just how far they have come in three years, and how dangerous they will be in the future. A primarily defensive game for the Tigers, the Cornhuskers attacked early and often. Playing without one of their premier forwards Lindsay Eddleman, Nebraska secured thier NCAA Tournament berth by beatig the Tigers today.
Nebraska came on early and immediately stormed the goal. In the eigth minute of the game, Nebraska's Lauren Tatum charger at Missouri goalkeeper Jackie Adamec. Taking her on one versus one, Adamec read her shot and swooped it up to keep the game scoreless. However, the Tiger defense could only hold out so long. At the 16th minute mark, midfielder Kristen Gay put Nebraska on th escorebaord when she headed the ball from nine yards outside of the goal. Then just four minutes later senior defender Isabelle Morneau shot fired a rocket from 35 yards and put it right under the top goal bar to make 2-0.
With just three minutes left to go in the half, sophomore forward Nikki Thole went down afte colliding with a Nebraska defender. While she did not return for the rest of the game, it was more a precautionary desicion by the coaching staff.
Five minutes into th esecond half Nebraska added fuel to their fire when Kim Engesser, the leading scorer of the Big 12, recieved a perfect serve and put the Cornhuskers up by three. Missouri kept up the fight and got the ball up to Erin Grimsley who shot wide. Not long after, junior midfielder Kate Dwyer chipped a free kick to the hands ofKarina LeBlanc for the Conhusker save.
With twenty minutes left to go in the game, Nebraksa topped of the scoring when Kim Engesser hit a ball into the low left corner.
"They were a better team today. I think that fatigue played a factor as well, but I am proud of the players that they fought so hard to get here," said Head Coach Bryan Blitz after the game.
Missouri awaits for the word from the NCAA as to whether or not this will be their final game in 1998. The announcement is being made at 8:30 p.m. central standard time.
A last note of Congratulations goes to four Missouri players who were selected to the All-Tournament Team. Goalkeeper Jakcie Adamec, midfielder Amy Timmerman, and forwards Erin Grimsley and Nikki Thole.