Sept. 17, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri women's soccer team could not battle back from an early UW-Milwaukee goal as the Tigers fell to the Panthers 1-0 on Sunday Morning at the Wisconsin Soccer Classic for their first lost of the season. Missouri (7-1-0) played well in the final 45 minutes but could not manage to tie the match.
Just before the 60 minute mark, the Missouri offense came alive and was once again able to penetrate Milwaukee's defense. Mizzou was able to gain possession of the ball with its play in the air to ignite the chances.
With their offense back on track, the Tigers played with renewed energy. In the 72nd minute, senior Elyse Nikonchuk unleashed a rocket from 30 yards that struck the crossbar and bounced in front of the goal line. Freshman Kristin Andrighetto fired a point-blank shot from seven yards but the Panther goalie punched away the shot.
One minute later, freshman Michelle Collins drove down the left side line, ran into the box and went down in the box but no penalty kick was awarded. Mizzou continued to press in the game's waning minutes but Milwaukee's defense stayed tight to preserve the Panther's 1-0 victory.
Despite Missouri dominating the opening minutes, Wisconsin-Milwaukee got on the board first in the 13th minute when the Panther goalie sent a ball to the Tiger end line that UWM's Jodi Klagos corralled and put past sophomore keeper Mallory Forst. The goal marked the first time all season Mizzou has trailed in a game.
The Panthers kept pressing after their goal but the Tiger defense held tight. Sophomore Lindsay McCoy saved a Milwaukee goal when she cleared away a shot on the goal line. With nine-plua minutes left in the first half, the backline camp up big again when sophomore Kat Tarr slid in and kicked away a Panther cross right in front of the net.
Mizzou's defense stepped up again in the opening minutes of the second half when sophomore Mo Redmond cleared out a loose ball in the box after Forst punched away a free kick shot.
Forst made four saves in goal for the Tigers.
Missouri returns home to Walton Stadium for a Big 12 Conference game matchup against Nebraska on Friday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. The Tigers then play their final non-conference game of the regular season in a 1:30 p.m. contest with Illinois State on Sunday, Sept. 24.