Sept. 23, 2005

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri soccer team led at two junctures in the game but could not hold on as the No. 14 Texas A&M Aggies slipped past the Tigers 3-2 in front of a boisterous crowd at Walton Stadium on Friday night.

The physical matchup saw a combined 34 fouls in the game and three yellow cards, all called on the Aggies. Missouri (5-3-1, 0-1)) kept the score close throughout and even led at two points in the game despite getting outshot by Texas A&M (6-1-1, 1-0) 21-9.

"This was a great college soccer game," said Missouri head coach Bryan Blitz. "This was a great way to open up conference play, it's what we expect from Texas A&M. They're a good team. They finished their chances (in the second half). We were defending a lot more in the second half, so by virtue of that, we didn't have as many attacking opportunities."

With the score knotted at 2-2 in the 73rd minute, Texas A&M's Kat Krambeer gathered a ball from Emily Peterson and placed her shot beyond sophomore goalie Laura Buehrig from four yards out for the game-winner. The Tigers had opportunities in the closing minutes but could not capitalize due to the stingy Aggie defense.

Mizzou senior Amber Swinehart opened scoring in the eighth minute when senior Jennifer Nobis passed a through ball up field to an oncoming Swinehart. Swinehart reached the ball before the Aggie defense and struck a shot that sailed into the left netting for a 1-0 Tiger advantage and Swinehart's team-leading fifth goal of the season.

Eight minutes later, A&M's Melissa narrowly eluded Tiger senior Erica Pusch and sent a perfect cross across the goal face. The ball found Ashlee Pistorius, who tapped the ball into the net to tie the score at 1-1.

The Aggies almost took the lead in the 29th minute but the Texas A&M shot from outside the box hit the crossbar and Buerhig managed to save the ensuing header. Three minutes later, Missouri regained the lead when the Tigers connected on a corner opportunity. Junior Aria Hudetz took the corner and lofted a left-footed ball into the box that freshman Mo Redmond headed home for a 2-1 Tiger lead.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Pistorius threaded a pass to Amy Berend in the top right corner of the box. Berend blasted the ball past Buehrig's outstretched fingers to tie the game at 2-2, a score that held up heading into the second half.

Texas A&M controlled the tempo and managed to limit the Tigers' chances in the final 45 minutes. Mizzou kept the Aggies at bay for almost 30 minutes but Krambeer's goal in the 73rd minute proved to be the game-winner.

Buehrig kept the Tigers in the game with seven saves on the night to up her season total to 39.

"They're a physical team but I thought we matched them pretty well physically," said freshman Kat Tarr. "This game shows us where we stand. Coach Blitz told us after the game that it was really good soccer and we can all learn from it. Hopefully, we'll see them again and we won't make the same mistakes twice.

Missouri next takes the field on Sunday, Sept. 25 against Baylor at 1:00 p.m. at Walton Stadium in the final game of the current five-game homestand. The Tigers then travel to Ames, Iowa for a matchup with Iowa State on Friday, Sept. 30 and to Lincoln, Neb. for a contest against Nebraska on Sunday, Oct. 2.