Aug. 28, 2004

Evanston, Ill.--The Mizzou women's soccer team pulled through its first game of the year claiming a 2-1 victory over Northwestern. The Tigers bested the Wildcats sinking a penalty kick during sudden death overtime play to own a 1-0 season record. Mizzou started the game smartly with a 1-0 half time lead. Jennifer Nobis scored the Tigers' first goal unassisted in just under 20 minutes of play. Defender Karen Bauer lobbed a cornerkick into the Wildcat goal box where sophomore Elyse Nikonchuk slammed a header that was deflected by the goal post. Nobis redirected the rebound to score Mizzou's first goal of the season. Northwestern collected itself during the intermission to build a comeback early in the second period. Freshman Kelsey Hans dribbled wide through the Mizzou goal box to take a slicing shot toward the Tiger net. The ball slipped past goalkeeper Laura Buehrig to tie the match 1-1. Despite ferocious play on both sides of the field, neither team was able to capitalize during regulation time forcing the game into sudden death overtime. Mizzou made quick work of the match scoring the game-winner with just under three minutes of extended play. Nobis made a harrowing run going one-on-one with Wildcat goalkeeper Whitney Jones. Pummeling a shot in the box, Jones blocked the attempt but couldn't get her hands on the ball. Nobis recouped for a second try, but was fouled inside the Northwestern box rewarding Mizzou with a penalty kick. Bauer maintained an unblemished career pk record scoring the final goal. Overall, Missouri outshot Northwestern 17-to-8, including an eight-to-five shot on goal ratio. Buehrig earned her first career win making four saves in her inaugural regular season game. The Tigers return to the field on Sun., Aug. 29 when they face #14 Illinois in Champaign. Mizzou returns home to host the Nike Tiger Invitational next weekend beginning Fri., Sept. 3 at 4:00 p.m.