Oct. 27, 2006
AMES, Iowa - Freshman Crystal Wagner headed home the game-winner of a free kick in the 106th to propel the Missouri soccer team to a 2-1 double-overtime victory over the Iowa State Cyclones Friday night in Ames, Iowa. With the win in the season finale, Mizzou ends the season with a 10-9 overall and 2-8 Big 12 record while Iowa State falls to 6-14 overall and 2-8 in league play.
With only four-plus minutes remaining in the contest, the Tigers drew a foul in the Iowa State defensive end. McCoy stepped up to take the free kick and found Wagner all alone on the far post for the game-winner. The goal was the first of Wagner's career while McCoy earned her third assist of the season and second in as many games.
Five minutes into the match, freshman Kristin Andrighetto ran down a long ball from the back line, entered the box, and unleashed a shot. The ball eluded the Cyclone goalie but bounced off the left post and was cleared by an Iowa State defender.
Two minutes later, the Tigers earned a corner but senior Elyse Nikonchuk's header off sophomore Lindsay McCoy's kick sailed just wide of the net.
Iowa State had a break away opportunity in the 23rd minute and looked to have a one-on-one chance against sophomore goalkeeper Mallory Forst but sophomore Kat Tarr sprinted into the box and tackled the ball away.
Mizzou countered one minute later when the Tigers were awarded a free kick just before the center line. McCoy sailed the kick into the box and senior Aria Hudetz knocked in a shot after the ball bounced off a Cyclone. The goal was the first of the season for Hudetz in her final collegiate contest.
The Cyclones nearly tied the game in the 35th minute when Forst came out to challenge a shot by Iowa State's Elise Reid. Forst knocked the ball away from Reid but it came loose and Reid recovered to take a shot on the empty net. McCoy made the defensive play of the night when the sophomore headed away the shot from the goal line to save a goal.
Sophomore Janelle Cordia almost added another goal for Missouri in the 55th minute when she tracked down a ball from freshman Breanna Thornton. After she ran into the box, Cordia sidestepped around a defender and ripped a shot to the upper portion of the goal but the Cyclone goalie got her fingers on the ball and tipped it over the crossbar.
After Andrigetto clanged another shot off the crossbar in the 57th minute, Cyclone Erin Witte knotted the game at 1-1 when she tapped in a second chance opportunity after Forst sprawled out to make an initial save.
Andrighetto seemed poised to put Mizzou on top when she had a clear path to goal after running down a long pass from senior Lauren Grice but Andrighetto's shot flew just wide of the net in the 84th minute.
Forst made six saves in net for the Tigers.
The game marked the final collegiate contests for seniors Grice, Hudetz, Meggie Malm and Nikonchuk.
The Tigers will hold their end of season banquet on Saturday, Dec. 9 in the Clinton Club of Mizzou Arena. Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. while the silent auction will start at 5:45 p.m.