April 11, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri soccer team held its own against one of the best teams in the world but could not pull out a win as the full Canadian National Team picked up a 2-0 victory in windy conditions at Walton Stadium. The Canadians entered their matchup with Missouri with 9-0 and 6-1 wins against Louisville and Purdue in their tour against U.S. colleges but managed only two goals against the Tigers on Tuesday night.
Featuring its full national team that is ranked 12th in the world, Canada controlled most of the game with deft ball movement and pinpoint passes but the Tigers thwarted many Canadian opportunities with great defense and the play of Missouri goalkeeper Mallory Forst. The Canadians had a 21-6 shot advantage in the game but Forst made six saves, including four in the second half, to hold Canada to two goals, all in the first half.
"I'm impressed with the way our girls played tonight," said Missouri head coach Bryan Blitz. "The Canadians are faster, more athletic and more intellectual than teams we usually face. We've worked our way up and have improved in each game so far this spring."
After the Mizzou defense blocked a Canadian shot, Charmaine Hooper gathered her own rebound and hit Martina Franko with a perfect pass. Franko easily controlled Hooper's pass and knocked the ball past Missouri keeper Mallory Forst for a 1-0 Canada lead in the 16th minute.
Missouri missed a golden opportunity to score in the 28th minute when Meghan Pfeiffer, stationed on the left post, headed a shot on goal. The shot sailed high over the crossbar
In the 29th minute, the Canadians struck again to bring their advantage to 2-0. After a Missouri foul near the far sideline, Nebraska's Brittany Timko sailed a free kick into the box. Christine Sinclair, a two-time winner of the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, one-timed Timko's pass into the left netting from five yards out.
The Tigers nearly broke through in the 35th minute when Amber Swinehart gathered a ball near midfield and sent a pass up Jennifer Nobis, who was sprinting up down the field. Nobis got to the ball just before Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod and took a shot from 25 yards out. The ball just dribbled wide of the open net to keep Canada on top 2-0.
Mizzou continued to withstand the Canadian's scoring chances in the second half and managed to gain control of the game in the final 10 minutes. Ashley Hamlin took the Tigers' first corner kick of the night in the 83rd minute and sent a ball into the box that found the foot of Swinehart. Swinehart unleashed a shot on goal that the Canadian defense blocked, corralled her own rebound and took another shot that was blocked. Tiger Lauren Grice managed to find the loose ball and blasted a shot from outside the box that flew just high of the crossbar. Missouri continued to pressure Canada's defense in the final minutes but could not find the back of the net.
Missouri, now 2-2 on the spring, continues its spring soccer schedule with a contest against Missouri State on Friday, April 21 at 7 p.m. at Liberty High School in Kansas City. The game will be aired live on Metro Sports in the Kansas City area.