Sept. 1, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. - Taking advantage of its team speed, the Missouri women's soccer team used goals by four different Tigers to run past Big Ten Conference foe Northwestern 4-0 in Evanston, Ill., on Friday afternoon. Mizzou is now a perfect 3-0-0 on the season, with all three wins coming against Big Ten schools.
"Our goal is always to score early and put pressure on the other team," said Missouri head coach Bryan Blitz. "Northwestern is a very good team. They had a number of chances to score but we held on. I think we bent a lot but we didn't break. It really was a total team effort today."
Missouri continued its streak of scoring early with a goal in the fourth minute by freshman Michelle Collins. Senior Elyse Nikonchuk played a ball up to Collins, who dribbled into the box, and chipped the ball over the Northwestern goalie for her first collegiate goal.
Sophomore Ashley Hamblin continued her torrid scoring spree with her fourth goal of the season in the 10th minute. After corralling a Wildcat header, the sophomore raced toward goal in a one-on-one with the Northwestern keeper. The goalie came off her line to challenge the attack and Hamblin easily put the ball into the net for an early 2-0 Missouri advantage.
The Tigers missed another prime scoring opportunity in the 24th minute. Freshman Kristin Andrighetto sailed a pass from the halfline up to freshman, Bree Thornton, who was streaking up the Wildcat's defense end. Thornton had a clear path to goal but sent her 12-yard shot just wide of the left post.
Mizzou increased its lead to 3-0 in the 38th minute off sophomore Janelle Cordia's first career goal. From the top of the box, freshmen Bianca Pritchett passed the ball up to Cordia. The sophomore one-timed the pass into the left side of the net for the Tigers' third goal. Thornton also assisted on the play.
The two squads went back and forth in the second half with each team failing to convert on a number of opportunities. With eight-plus minutes left in the game, Missouri added its fourth goal after Cordia sent a perfect cross to the far post that redshirt-freshman Meghan Pfeiffer headed onto goal. Pfeiffer's shot failed to cross the goal line but Thornton sent the rebound past the Wildcat goalie for Mizzou's final goal.
Sophomore goalie Mallory Forst posted her third shutout of the season and made two saves in goal.
The Tigers continue play in the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge with a contest against Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn., on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. Mizzou then returns to Walton Stadium for games against Northwestern State and Loyola-Chicago on Friday, Sept. 8 and Sunday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.