Oct. 29, 2004

Box Score

Columbia, Mo.--Rounding out the 2004 regular season, the Tigers tied up their record taking a 5-2 victory over Alabama A&M. Overtaking the Bulldogs with a 19-to-4 shot ratio, including a 12-to-2 shot on goal differential, Mizzou ends the year with a 9-9-1 record going 5-5-0 in Big 12 Conference play.

Seeing their final home game in Audrey J. Walton Stadium, the Mizzou senior class played up to the task scoring three of the Tigers' five goals and all three Mizzou assists. Team co-captain Shea Swoboda got Missouri started off scoring the Tigers' first goal just eight minutes into play. Setting up the goal, fellow senior Kristen Heil dribbled to the AAMU endline to slate a pass to Swoboda inside the six-yard box.

Keeping with her legacy as Mizzou's fastest retaliator, Heil put in a goal of her own just 31 seconds later. Collecting a ball launched over the Bulldog defense by Kim Hibbert, Heil dribbled to the top of the 18-yard box to score unassisted.

Maintaining the momentum through the remainder of the half, Heil dished out her second assist of the night helping Jennifer Nobis score the game-winning goal in the 21st minute of play. Putting the Tigers up 3-0, Heil lofted a pass from the AAMU defensive half into the Bulldog goal box enabling Nobis to slip a ball past goalkeeper Pricilla Menasah.

Opening the second half, senior Karen Bauer lived up to her reputation as Mizzou's clutch penalty kicker. Accurately scoring the Tigers' fourth goal of the game just one minute into the period, Bauer nailed her second penalty of the season extending her career penalty kick record to six-of-six.

Unwilling to let the Tigers have all the glory, the Bulldogs put in two goals during the second half. Working a ball into the Mizzou penalty area, Lorraine Mbatha chipped a pass inside the Tiger goal box where Lillian Phalatse scored AAMU's first goal. Alberta Annan put in the Bulldogs second goal late in the period taking a shot from around 20 yards out.

Interrupting AAMU's scoring pair, Elyse Nikonchuk scored the Tigers final goal in the 65th minute on a corner kick. Bauer, also MU's resident cornerkicker, lofted a ball over the Bulldog goal box where Nikonchuk utilized her height to score on a header. The goal is Nikonchuk's second of the season and marks Bauer's fifth cornerkick assist of the year.

Missouri continues the 2004 season in post season play contending in the Big 12 Tournament next week in San Antonio, Texas. Competition runs Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, November 3, 5 and 7. Finishing sixth in league standings, Mizzou faces No. 3 seeded Colorado (13-4-2, 6-3-1) on in the first round at 7:30 p.m., on Wednesday.