Oct. 12, 2007

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Columbia, Mo. - The fifth-ranked University of Missouri women's soccer team (10-2-0, 4-0-0 Big 12) defeated the Oklahoma Sooners (5-6-2, 1-4-0 Big 12), 3-0, Friday night, as the Tigers extended their home winning streak to a program record six games. Mizzou is a perfect 6-0 at Walton Stadium this season. The Tigers have also won six games in a row, one behind the record of seven.

The Tigers did not play last Sunday, giving them a week between games. But Mizzou was not rusty.

"We had a bit of a layoff but a great week of practice," Tiger Head Coach Bryan Blitz said. "Oklahoma is a difficult team to play against. You have to be very sharp and precise and must finish. Even with our great amount of shots, we didn't get frustrated and we played a complete game. Last year with a game like this we would have probably gotten frustrated and lost this game."

The Tigers shot 39 times Friday night, scoring on three of them, which was enough to give them the upper hand in the conference race with a 4-0 start. The Tigers' four game conference winning streak ties the longest in program history, which was set in 1999.

The first goal came quick, in the 13th minute, when midfielder Mo Redmond dribbled the ball on the far side, and passed it back to the middle for Michelle Collins, who dumped it off to freshman forward Alysha Bonnick who was about eight yards out. She kept the ball on the ground and squeaked it past OU goalkeeper Tara Macdonald to give the Tigers an early lead. That goal would turn out to be the game-winner, as the Tiger defense held OU scoreless throughout the entire 90 minutes. The game-winner was Bonnick's fifth, which gives her the program record for game-winning goals scored in a season by a freshman. Bonnick has nine total goals this season. Redmond's assist was her fourth game-winning assist of the season.

The Tiger defense earned its fifth shutout of the year by holding the Sooner offense in check the entire game, keeping them to only six shots. One of the best OU chances in the first half came in the 34th minute, when Tiana Dickson got all the way to the top of the box but fired it high over the net. The half would end with Mizzou leading, 1-0.

Mizzou kept the offensive pressure on in the second half, taking 22 shots before the period ended, to Oklahoma's three. A few of those shots resulted in a couple of Tiger goals.

The first of the second half came in the 72nd minute, when freshman Kari Adam gathered a Collins rebound and blasted it into the top right corner of the net for her third goal of the season. That goal gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

A little more than ten minutes later, in the 84th minute, the Tigers got on the board again, again off of a rebound. This time, Kristin Andrighetto put a shot on goal after she weaved her way through OU defenders. Macdonald saved it, but didn't gather the rebound, and Andrighetto was right there to kick it past her for her team-leading 10th goal of the season.

The Sooners would get one more shot before the end of the game, as a Kate Leyendecker shot went wide of the net early in the 90th minute. Over the course of the game, OU got two shots on goal, both saved by Forst.

Game Notes:

Tigers Earn Eighth 10-win Season

With Friday night's win, the Tigers secured a 10-win season, Tiger Head Coach Bryan Blitz's eighth 10 or more-win season of his Mizzou career. Mizzou has earned 10 or more wins in 2006 (10), 2003 (12), 2002 (11), 2001 (13), 2000 (10), 1999 (14) and 1998 (11).

Second Half Dominance

With their two goals in the second half of Friday's game, the Tigers have now outscored their opponents, 25-8, after halftime this season. Mizzou has outscored opponents, 13-6, in the first halves of games.

Forst!

Forst has started the last seven Tiger games, recording a 6-2 record in those starts. She has three shutouts on the season.

Quick Look Around the Conference

Texas A&M defeated Texas, 2-0, to keep pace with the Tigers. Both teams have 12 points, but the Tigers would hold a tie-break due to Mizzou's 3-2 win in Columbia earlier this season. Mizzou's next opponent, Oklahoma State, tied Kansas, 2-2, after two overtime periods. Colorado defeated Baylor, 3-2, to earn their third win of the year. Mizzou plays at Texas and at Colorado next weekend.

Sunday Showdown

The Tigers will host Oklahoma State at 1 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 14). Admission to the game is just $1.