Sept. 22, 2006

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COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri soccer team could not claw its way back from two early Nebraska goals as the Tigers dropped a 2-0 contest to the Cornhuskers in both teams' Big 12 Conference openers in front of 1,065 fans on Friday night at Walton Stadium. The loss is the second in a row for Missouri (7-2-0, 0-1-0) after seven straight wins to start the season. Nebraska improved to 6-1-2 overall and 1-0-0 in league play with the win.

Missouri dominated much of the final 45 minutes and the stat sheet with a 20-8 total shot advantage and a 9-2 lead on corner kicks but the Tigers failed to finish on their multiple opportunities

"We're proud of our team because no one ever gave up and we fought to the end," said Missouri Head Coach Bryan Blitz. "We just had a little lack of focus at the very beginning but we played excellent the final 75 minutes."

Nebraska got things started early as Husker Brittany Timko sent a cross from the left end line to Jessie Goodell, who was stationed at the far post. The pass was touched by the Mizzou defense and trickled over the goal line for an own goal, giving Nebraska a quick 1-0 lead in the fourth minute.

The Huskers constant pressure paid off again in the 18th minute when Tanya Dennis threaded a perfect ball up to a sprinting Timko. The All-American got past the Tiger backline and easily finished a one-on-one with Missouri goalkeeper Mallory Forst.

Missouri woke up after Nebraska went up 2-0 and began to create chances of its own. In the 22nd minute, sophomore Mo Redmond eluded the Husker defense and passed off to senior Elyse Nikonchuk, who ripped a shot on net. Nebraska keeper Jamie Klages got her fingers on the shot to save the goal but the ball dribbled out of bounds for a Mizzou corner. The ensuing corner kick was cleared away by the Cornhusker defense, which held tight the remainder of the first and sent the Tigers into the locker room down 2-0.

The Tigers looked sharp from the opening kick of the second half and immediately put pressure on the Husker defense. Klages kept Nebraska's shutout alive after saving a barrage of Mizzou shots in the 51st minute. Nikonchuk fired a shot from just outside the box that Klages saved but could not control. Freshman Kristin Andrighetto pounced on the rebound but her shot flew right into Klage's body. After nabbing the second rebound, freshman Michelle Collins unleashed a 12-yard shot to the far post but her chance sailed just over the crossbar.

Mizzou moved more players up as the clock neared the 80th minute, which nearly provided early dividends. Stationed with the ball on the left end line, Redmond crossed a low ball that skirted in front of the goal mouth. An oncoming Nikonchuk slid in an attempt to one-time the ball into the net but her run was a hair to late and the ball went out of bounds.

In the 84th minute, freshman Breanna Thornton gathered a loose ball in the box and turned toward goal but her shot sailed just over the goal for a Nebraska goal kick. Missouri earned two corners in the final four minutes of the match but failed to capitalize on the opportunities.

"We're creating chances and eventually those chances will lead to goals," said Blitz. "Nebraska's goalkeeper did a great job tonight and their defense as a whole played very well."

"Every year it's always a challenge against Nebraska," said Nikonchuk. "I think we played great despite the loss. We played real soccer, we worked as a team, moving the ball around but we just couldn't finish on our shots. Even though the game didn't work out for us, we're definitely going to build on it."

Forst made three saves in goal for Mizzou.

The Tigers continue their four game homestand against Illinois State in their final non-conference game of the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. Mizzou then hosts Big 12 foes Texas Tech and Baylor on Friday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m., respectively.