Oct. 1, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri soccer team yielded three first half goals as the squad suffered a 3-0 loss to Baylor Sunday afternoon at Walton Stadium. The loss drops Mizzou's record to 8-4 overall and 0-3 in Big 12 play while Baylor improves to 4-6-1 and 2-2.
Allowing early goals to its opponents has been an achilles heel for the Tigers lately and Sunday's game was no exception. Just seven minutes into the game, Bear Lauren Weathers unleashed a shot from the corner of the box that sophomore goalie Mallory Forst punched out of the goal and off the crossbar. Unfortunately, the rebound bounced to the head of Anna Schuch, who headed to ball back on net for a 1-0 Baylor lead.
The Tigers nearly responded in the 22nd minute when freshman Breanna Thornton sent a cross into the box. Sophomore Lindsay McCoy one-timed a left-footed shot on net but Baylor keeper Ashley Holder made the save. Two minutes later, Holder mishandled a through ball intended for freshman Bianca Pritchett but the goalie quickly recovered and made a save on Pritchett's shot.
Mizzou's best opportunity of the second half came on a free kick by senior Meggie Malm from just before half field. The kick sailed right to the top of the goal and seemed to catch Holder off guard but the Bear recovered to catch the 45-yard blast.
The Bear's added their second goal when the Tiger defense failed to clear a blocked shot by Carolyn Lynch in the 33rd minute. Amanda McGrath found the loose ball and fired a 17-yard shot past Forst and into the goal.
With less than a minute and a half remaining in the first half, Baylor upped its lead to 3-0. Roscovius sent a deep throw-in into the box that Forst looked to have a beat on. Just before Forst caught the ball, Missy McConnell flicked the ball over Forst's head for a 3-0 game.
The Tigers played well out of the gate to start the second half but failed to convert on their chances. Missouri corners early in the final 45 minutes nearly put Mizzou on the board but Holder saved a header from redshirt freshman Meghan Pfeiffer and the Bear defense blocked a shot by Pritchett.
Baylor looked poised to add to its lead when the squad earned a penalty kick in the 63rd minute. McConnell stepped up to the ball and ripped her shot on net but Forst punched the ball away and also saved McConnell's ensuing shot off the rebound. The second rebound dribbled to the feet of Roscovius, who fired a shot at a seemingly open goal but McCoy ran in to clear the ball away.
"Right now we really lost our hunger," said Missouri Head Coach Bryan Blitz. "We're making silly, focus errors forcing us to play from behind. Until we correct those we'll have long games like this. Our second half effort was better and we think we can take that effort to practice this week."
Missouri travels to Oklahoma next weekend in search of its first Big 12 victory against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The Tigers square off against the Oklahoma Sooners on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. before a 1 p.m. contest against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Sunday, Oct. 8.