Oct. 2, 2009

Box Score

Austin, Texas - The University of Missouri women's soccer team (6-4-2, 1-0-1) continued their knack for the dramatics with a 1-1 draw on the road against the Texas Longhorns (4-5-2, 1-0-2) on Friday night. For the second consecutive match, senior striker Michelle Collins scored in the clutch, this time finding the back of the net with 1:01 remaining in regulation to force two scoreless overtime periods.

Kelsey Blincow started the scoring opportunity with a 25-yard pass down the left side of the field to find the speedy Collins at the top of the penalty area. The Naperville, Ill. native beat her defender and fired a shot from a tough angle that sailed past Longhorns' freshman goalkeeper Alexa Gaul and inside the far post.

The goal, her team-high fourth of the season, came less than a week after scoring the game-winner against Oklahoma State last Sunday with 15 minutes left, and she also had the game-tying goal with five minutes left in the season opening 3-2 victory at Iowa.

The late Missouri breakthrough came after a multitude of scoring chances throughout as the Tigers outshot Texas 24-10 and 6-4 in shots on goal, led by senior Kristin Andrighetto's seven attempts. But the stingy Texas defense, allowing just their second goal in three conference games this season, was up to the task time and again with the aid of Gaul's five saves on the night.

The Longhorns were able to bunker following a 1-0 lead that came in the 24th minute of the match courtesy of freshman forward Hannah Higgins. Her first-time effort from 10 yards out was assisted by Longhorns' sophomore Amanda Lisberger.

It was the only shot that got past Tigers' senior goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore who made three saves to give her 47 for the season. Dittamore received significant support from the Tigers' backline as the trio of Crystal Wagner, Mallory Stipetich, and Kellie Gavigan each played the full 110 minutes in limiting the Longhorns' attack to four shots on goal.

The draw, Missouri's first point earned at Texas since the program's inaugural season in 1996, improves MU to 2-1-1 on the road this season. With the tie, both Texas and Missouri maintain unbeaten records early in the conference portion of their schedules.

Missouri will look to keep climbing the standings on Sunday at #15 Texas A&M, a match that will be nationally televised on ESPNU live at 4 p.m.