Oct. 3, 2003
Box Score
Columbia, Mo.-Facing their third consecutive top-25 opponent, the Mizzou Tigers were spurred to victory by their hometown crowd. Missouri defeated #17 ranked California with a 1-0 shutout triumph to extend their home win streak to 5-0 on the year. The win also boosts the Tigers to a 6-5 record to halt a three-game losing stretch.
Mizzou came on strong from the kickoff giving California goalkeeper Anna Key several scares early on. Forwards Adriene Davis and Kristen Heil came together to execute the Tigers' first dangerous play. Although the combination was unsuccessful, their skilled attack set the tone for what was to come.
Missouri created a web of solid passing and skillful maneuvers to frustrate the Bears. Turning the key for the Tiger victory however was Mizzou's outstanding speed. Early on the Tigers pressured the Cal defense to discover the Bears were no match for the exhilarating pace of Mizzou's offensive forerunners.
Utilizing the efforts of all 11 players, pairing practiced footwork with quick paced passing, the Tigers were able to notch the game-winning goal. Forward Melissa Peabody possessed a ball through the Mizzou midfield and sent a long pass forward to Heil. Marked by a California defender, Heil sent a quick outside flick wide where defender Kim Hibbert awesomely bested the opposition.
Coming from the backfield, Hibbert sped to the top of the Cal box out mastering her mark to take an un-defendable shot to the net. The goal marks the first for Hibbert this season and is the first Mizzou goal to be scored by a member of the Tiger defensive line in 2003.
Haunted by the reminder of their recent loss to Colorado, Missouri concentrated its efforts toward eliminating chances for California to make a come back. The team settled into their hard-nosed aggressive method and worked their way through the remainder of the game to seal their victory.
The Bears kept the Tigers on their toes, antagonizing Mizzou with several close calls. Midway through the second half, Cal's Lucy Brining slammed a header lobbed from a corner kick just a few feet from the goal line. Missouri goalkeeper Megan Duncan was on her game however and was positioned perfectly to make the tough save.
The game marks Missouri's sixth outing against a ranked opponent this season, but turns the tide as the Tiger's first top-25 victory. The triumph is also Mizzou's third shutout of the year and second for Duncan-bringing her career shutout record to 12. She made four saves in the game to boost year senior tally to 16 saves and lower her goals against average to 0.28.
Looking to keep the momentum on their home field and take some of their home turf magnetism into Big 12 Conference play, the Tigers welcome the #24 ranked Oklahoma Sooners to Audrey J. Walton Stadium on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
