Oct. 6, 2006
Box Score
NORMAN, Okla. - The Missouri women's soccer team battled back twice but fell one goal short as the Tigers lost to the Oklahoma Sooners 3-2 Friday night in Norman, Okla. Missouri (8-5-0, 0-4-0 Big 12) and Oklahoma (4-8-1, 1-4-1) were whistled for a combined 38 fouls in the physical contest.
Oklahoma utilized great ball movement in the 18th minute to go on top 1-0. The Sooners sent a perfect cross to the far post that Audrey Habibi knocked into the back of the net.
Two minutes later, the Tiger defense stopped the Sooners from increasing their lead when sophomore keeper Mallory Forst made a save on a one-timer from Allyson Kucera and freshman Bianca Pritchett cleared a ball on the goal line off a Kady Kelly shot.
Oklahoma looked to have upped its lead to 2-0 on a free kick opportunity but the Sooner who headed in the ball was whistled offsides to keep the deficit to one. In the 53rd minute, however, Kelly punched in a goal from the right post on a pass from Tenesha Duncan. Forst stretched out and got a hand on the shot but the deflection hit the far post and bounced into the net.
In the 55th minute, redshirt freshman Meghan Pfeiffer headed a corner kick on net but the shot flew into the stomach of a Sooner defender stationed on the goal line. A minute later, freshman Kristin Andrighetto sent a cross from the right sideline to the near post that found the head of Thornton. The two-yard header sailed just over the crossbar and Missouri could not convert its ensuing corner.
The Tigers kept up their pressure and finally got on the scoreboard in the 68th minute. Freshman Michelle Collins lost the ball in the box but managed to regain control and deflect the ball to Andrighetto. The freshman unleashed a 17th yard shot to the right post for her fourth goal of the season.
Missouri could not hold on to its momentum and yielded the Sooner's eventual game-winning goal two minutes later. Savannah Scott appeared to be offsides before she received a flick but the flag did not go up and the Sooner put a shot past Forst for Oklahoma's third and final goal of the game.
After a cleared Mizzou corner the Sooners had a two-on-none breakaway and looked poised to notch another goal but Forst, who was caught out of the box, made a save while backpedaling to thwart another Oklahoma chance.
Mizzou continued to battle and again cut the Sooner advantage to one when Collins passed to Pritchett in the box in the 70th minute. Prichett took a shot that trickled past the Oklahoma goalie and into the lower left part of the net for her first collegiate goal.
In the game's waning minutes, Missouri narrowly missed tying the game on set pieces. Headers by Pfeiffer and sophomore Kat Tarr off a free kick and corner, respectively, sailed just wide of the goal to preserve the 3-2 Oklahoma win.
The Tigers continue their swing of Oklahoma on Sunday, Oct. 8 with a 1 p.m. contest against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex. Mizzou then returns to Walton Stadium for their final home weekend of the season with games against Colorado on Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. and Kansas on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. Prior to kickoff of the Kansas game, Missouri will honor its four seniors in their last regular season home contest.
