Oct. 4, 2009

Box Score

College Station, Texas - The University of Missouri women's soccer team capped its first conference road trip of the season in thrilling fashion in a 4-4 draw at No. 15 Texas A&M (7-4-1, 2-1-1) on Sunday, shown live on ESPNU from Aggie Soccer Stadium. The two teams combined for five goals in the second half, with three of them coming in the final eight minutes of regulation, as the Tigers improve to 6-4-3 overall and remain unbeaten in Big 12 play at 1-0-2.

Seniors Michelle Collins and Bree Thornton scored their team-high fifth goals of the season for Missouri, and sophomore Kendra Collins and senior Kristin Andrighetto each gave the Tigers' second half leads with goals of their own. But the home team Aggies got on the board last in the shootout, scoring the game-tying goal with 4:10 remaining in regulation before two scoreless overtime periods.

The Tigers struck first in the 11th minute as Michelle Collins headed in a cross from Kelsey Blincow from 12 yards out. The captain's header skipped off the inside of the post before crossing the goalline to mark her third consecutive match with a tally. In a sign of events to come, an equalizer was not long after as Texas A&M forward Katie Hamilton scored less than four minutes later. Missouri goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore made the initial save off the corner kick but had the ball knocked loosed by Aggie Bri Young. Thornton cleared the follow-up effort off the goalline only to have Hamilton power it off the post and into the back of the net.

The game remained level at 1-1 for the duration of the first half, played in wet conditions in College Station. But the goals came fast and furious following the break, as Texas A&M grabbed their only lead of the game in the 47th minute courtesy of a header from Alyssa Mautz. The O'Fallen, Missouri native headed in a corner past a cluster of players in the six-yard box with Rachel Shipley earning the assist on the service.

The Tigers answered right back, as Thornton pulled Missouri even just over a minute later. Junior forward Alysha Bonnick made a charging run down the left side of the field before crossing into the penalty area. Michelle Collins' first-time shot was denied by Texas A&M goalkeeper Kelly Dyer but Thornton, reigning Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week, was there to knock in the rebound.

Missouri regained the lead then in the 69th minute off a long-range blast from sophomore Kendra Collins. The Naperville, Ill. native launched her shot from well outside the penalty area and off the fingertips of an airborne Dyer before hitting the back of the net. It was the younger Collins' second goal of her career, both coming this season.

A&M evened it at 3-3 in the 83rd minute on Shipley's third goal of the season. Shipley's perfectly placed shot from the corner of the 18-yard box floated over Dittamore's outstretched arms and off the inside of the far post to set-up a dramatic final seven minutes.

Off the ensuing kickoff, Andrighetto dribbled downfield and struck a sliding shot past a stunned Aggies defense for her fourth goal of the season. Eleven seconds had expired on the clock between goals as Missouri reclaimed both the momentum and the lead 4-3.

But the Aggies' ability to capitalize on corner kicks proved to be the difference. Texas A&M converted their third corner kick goal of the night, this time in the 86th minute by Whitney Hooper to tie the match once and for all at 4-4. Hooper's header, her team-best sixth goal of the season, came via a cross from Shipley who earned a game-high four points on the night with the assist.

Missouri totaled 16 shots - nine of them on goal - and the offensive effort was highlighted by a 14-12 Tigers' advantage in shots after halftime and a 10-8 final edge in corner kicks. Defensively, Dittamore made a season-high seven saves in goal for Missouri, repeatedly thwarting dangerous opportunities by the Aggies' attack. The draw was the first-ever between Missouri and Texas A&M, conference co-favorites to win the Big 12 title in the preseason coach's poll. For the Tigers, the draw came on the heels of a 1-1 tie at Texas on Friday marking the first time in Missouri history to record back-to-back double-overtime ties. Moreover, the three draws this season matches a program-high.

Missouri returns home on Friday for a key conference contest with first-place Colorado (7-6-0, 4-1-0) at 6:30 p.m. at Walton Stadium. The game is the team's annual Playing for Pink promotion to support Breast Cancer Awareness month as the Tigers will wear pink uniforms to be auctioned off following the match (all proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation).