Sept. 12, 2003

Box Score

Starkville, Miss.-The Missouri Tigers dropped their first game of the 2003 season in a 1-0 heartbreaker against Mississippi State. After dominating the Bulldogs on offense throughout the game, MSU was able to slip in the game-winning goal with just under seven minutes of play remaining.

Mississippi State opened strong taking two drives on goal. Missouri goalkeeper Stephanie Krawczyk was ready however and thwarted the attempts pulling out two tremendous saves to keep Mizzou on track.

The Tigers overpowered the Bulldogs offensively taking 23 shots overall, including 13 shots on goal. Keeping MSU to just eight shots in 90 minutes, the Mississippi State victory was ultimately won by freshman goalkeeper Luisa Marzotto, who made 13 saves in the game and extended her consecutive shutout minutes to 369.

Despite Missouri's offensive assault and Krawczyk's stellar play, Mississippi State nicked in the game-winner on an unexpected shot by Betty Ann Casey. After taking a powerful shot that was blocked by defender Kim Hibbert, Casey collected the deflection and lobbed a turnaround shot across the top edge of the net just beyond Krawczyk's reach.

Mizzou remained ferocious in spite of the deficit. In the last five minutes of play, the Tigers took three additional shots on goal and kept the momentum on the Bulldog's end of the field. Forward Shea Swoboda knocked a perfect cross through the box where forward Jennifer Nobis knocked down a well-placed header and freshman Margaret Malm kept the spirit alive launching in a powerful shot with just seconds to go in the game. But Marzotto came up with two stunning saves to obstruct the Tigers' tying efforts leading Mississippi State to its first program victory over a ranked team.

The Tigers continue their tour through the Magnolia State playing Mississippi on Sunday, September 14 at 1:00 p.m. Missouri returns home to Audrey J. Walton Stadium on Friday at 7:00 p.m., when Mizzou hosts Eastern Illinois.