Nov. 5, 2008

Box Score

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The No. 15 University of Missouri women's soccer (14-5-0, 7-3-0) team opened Big 12 Tournament play with a 3-1 upset win over No. 9 Texas (12-3-4, 5-2-3) on Wednesday at Blossom Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. Sophomore striker Alysha Bonnick scored twice, including the match winner, as the Tigers advance to play the winner of No. 2 seed Texas A&M and No. 7 seed Kansas on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the semifinals.

After managing a lone shot on goal in a scoreless first half, the Tigers' attack came to life in the opening minutes of the second half. Junior midfielder Bree Thornton opened the scoring in the 54th minute after junior forward Michelle Collins got around the corner on the left side of the box. With Texas goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger out of position, Thornton scored her third goal of the season on a first-time strike.

Less than three minutes later, Bonnick doubled the Missouri lead with a volley past Pfenninger. The All-Big 12 first team selection had her original shot blocked but settled the rebound to score the game-winner.

The Longhorns responded in the 64th minute with a superb strike from Courtney Goodson. The freshman netted her team-high sixth goal of the season with a shot from outside the penalty area that deflected off the underside of the crossbar and in.

Holding on to the 2-1 lead, Bonnick added an insurance goal for the Tigers in the 84th minute off another assist from Michelle Collins. Bonnick volleyed a bouncing pass for her team-leading 11th goal of the season. Collins earned her sixth assist of the season on the goal, also a team high.

Junior goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore recorded six saves, five of them coming in the first half, to earn her 14th victory of the season, a new Missouri school record. The Tigers also matched a program record for scoring in consecutive matches, matching the 1999 mark for consecutive games without being shutout at 16.

Pfenninger was credited with eight saves on 20 Missouri shots. After being outshot 8-4 in the first half, the Tigers outshot the Longhorns 16-4 in the second period.

The Missouri victory avenges a 2-1 loss to the Longhorns last month in Columbia, and snaps a 10-match losing streak to Texas dating back to 1999. Texas is eliminated in the first round of the tournament after being crowned tournament champions the previous two years.