Sept. 29, 2006

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COLUMBIA, Mo. - Two goals within a two minute span surged the Texas Tech Red Raiders to a 3-1 victory over the No. 17 Missouri soccer team in front of 944 fans at Walton Stadium Friday night. With the loss, Missouri falls to 8-3 and 0-2 in Big 12 play while Texas Tech improves to 5-6 overall and 1-2 in league action.

Missouri outshot Texas Tech 16-12 but the Red Raiders made the most of their opportunities and held a slim 6-5 shot on goal advantage.

"We got beat by a better team today," said Missouri Head Coach Bryan Blitz. "We just went through the motions and got punished by a well coached team. We pride ourselves on our work ethic and we got outworked today but we'll see how we respond on Sunday."

The Red Raiders got behind the Tiger defense on a counter attack for a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute. Chessa Purser passed a ball up to Brittney Harrison, who was sprinting down the field with only one Tiger to beat. Sophomore goalie Mallory Forst came off her line to challenge Harrison once the Red Raider entered the box but Harrison pushed a shot past Forst and into the net.

Mizzou responded five minutes later to tie the game at 1-1 in the 22nd minute. Senior Elyse Nikonchuk drove a free kick into the box that redshirt freshman Meghan Pfeiffer headed into the back of the net. The goal was the third of the year for Pfeiffer and Nikonchuk tallied her third assist.

Nikonchuk and senior Aria Hudetz each almost put Missouri on top within a three-minute span but neither Tiger could finish. Texas Tech keeper Tina Rincon saved Nikonchuk's one-timer from the top of the box and Hudetz's shot off a rebound from freshman Kristen Andrighetto sailed just wide.

Two Texas Tech goals within a two minute span early in the second half quickly put the Red Raiders up 3-1 and Mizzou back on its heels. On a corner in the 49th minute, and Priscilla Esquivel gathered a loose ball in the box and chipped a 16-yard shot over Forst's head and just under the crossbar. Harrison struck again in the 52nd minute after she stole the ball from the Tiger defense and easily put the ball in the back of the net for her second goal of the game.

Down by two goals, Missouri pushed players up in hopes of cutting into the Red Raider lead. Pfeiffer almost scored her second goal in the game in the 72nd minute when she fired a shot from just outside the box but the ball flew just wide of the net.

One minute later, freshman Breanna Thornton headed a ball up to Andrighetto stationed in the box but Rincon came off her line and to thwart the chance. Andrighetto had another chance in the 79th minute on a left-footed shot but Rincon managed to corral the shot after initially bobbling the ball. With just over six minutes left in the game, senior Meggie Malm looked to have a clear path to goal but she collided hard with Rincon, who had come out to challenge the play, and Malm was whistled for a foul.

"We came in kind of looking past (Texas Tech) and you have to bring it every game," said Pfeiffer. "We're down that we're 0-2 in conference play but we have to hold ourselves accountable for everything and we'll pick up our game going into the rest of the season."

Forst made three saves in goal for the Tigers.

Mizzou comes right back with a game against Baylor on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. at Walton Stadium. The Tigers then travel for games against Oklahoma on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. and Oklahoma State on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m.