Nov. 2, 2005
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Missing their 2003 eighth-seed magic, the Missouri Tigers fell to top-seeded and No. 10 Texas A&M 3-1 in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament Wednesday afternoon in San Antonio, Texas.
Trailing 2-0 late in the game, three seniors combined to cut the Tigers' deficit to 2-1. Defender Erica Pusch crossed the ball into the box from the left endline to forward Amber Swinehart, who in turn passed to forward Jennifer Nobis six yards in front of the goal. Nobis stuck a shot that eluded Aggie goalie Kati Jo Spisak and rolled into the lower right netting with 4:49 left in the game.
Invigorated by the goal, Missouri continued to pressure the Aggie defense in search of the game-tying goal. The Tigers could not convert their scoring chances and the Aggies put the match out of reach when Madison Klovstad brought Tiger keeper Laura Buerhig off her line and found Kat Krambeer, who knocked the ball into the open net with 31 seconds remaining for a 3-1 Aggie advantage.
The Tigers nearly scored in the fifth minute when Swinehart intercepted a low goal kick from Aggie goalie Kati Jo Spisak and threaded a pass up to Nobis. After dribbling into the box, Nobis struck a shot that Spisak managed to get her fingers on. The rebound trickled toward the goal but a Texas A&M defender cleared the ball on the goal line.
In the 13th minute, Linda Pierson took a free kick just past midfield for the Aggies that almost put Texas A&M on top. Pierson's long shot got behind Buehrig but the ball bounced just before the left post and dribbled out of bounds.
After another Aggie opportunity was thwarted by a header save on the goal line by freshman midfielder Janelle Cordia, Texas A&M finally did get on the board on a breakaway from Ashlee Pistorius. Amy Berend passed up to an oncoming Pistorious, who had a one-on-one with Buehrig. Pistorius placed her low shot to the right of Buehrig for a 1-0 advantage.
The Tigers increased their offensive pressure to start the second half but still could not find the back of the net despite several scoring opportunities.
The Aggies added to their margin in the 68th minute on a 30-yard shot from Carrie Berand that sailed past Buehrig and just into the top left corner to put Texas A&M on top 2-0.
In goal for the Tigers, Buehrig made a number of diving stops to finish with eight in the game. Texas A&M outshot Missouri 21-13 in the game, including 12-4 in shots on goal.
Missouri will not know if they earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament until the selections are announced on Monday, Nov. 7 at 4:30 p.m. CT.