April 11, 2009
Columbia, Mo. - An offensive outburst powered the University of Missouri women's soccer team to a 4-1 victory over Indiana on Saturday at the Anheuser Busch Soccer Park in St. Louis. The Tigers got goals from sophomores Alysha Bonnick, Kari Adam, Brittany Hopkins, and Kelsey Stokes to improve to 3-0-0 against college competition this spring.
Bonnick, the Tigers leading scorer in the fall, sparked the attack with her opportunistic strike in the 18th minute. The Ontario, Canada native pounced on an errant clearance and calmly slotted her shot from 12 yards out to give Missouri an early 1-0 lead.
After protecting the advantage through the halftime break, the Tigers doubled their lead in the 49th minute. Bonnick was again at the middle of things, this time playing provider after dribbling through the Hoosiers defense on a 40-yard run. Adam made it count with a first time shot from the right side, slipping it beneath the Indiana goalkeeper.
Fifteen minutes later, Hopkins netted the game's third goal from just inside the penalty area with a well-placed volley. Freshman Kendra Collins earned the assist for her flick that allowed Hopkins, a medical redshirt in the fall season, to loft her first time shot into the far side corner.
Indiana got on the scoreboard then in the 82nd minute courtesy of a goal by Jocelyn Moses who got behind the Tigers' defense with a hard run down the left side and finishing the breakaway with a well placed shot to the right of MU goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore.
Stokes gave the fans one last chance to cheer then in the 88th minute when her header from six yards out put an exclamation point on the Tigers offensive performance. Adam supplied the service, driving a cross through the box after her shot was saved by the Hoosiers' onrushing goalkeeper.
Both Stokes and Hopkins' goals were their first in a Tiger uniform, highlighting a strong showing by Missouri's sophomore class that accounted for all four goals and two assists in the match.
The game, part of the eighth annual College Showcase, was Missouri's last against college competition this spring. The Tigers went three for three against Big 10 opponents, earning wins over Minnesota, Purdue, and Indiana.
The Tigers will close the spring season this Friday in rematch with the St. Louis Athletica of Women's Professional Soccer. The game will kickoff at 11 a.m. at Ralph Korte Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville.