Sept. 13, 2009

Box Score

Auburn, Ala. - The University of Missouri women's soccer team (4-2-1) earned a 1-1 draw with No. 25 Vanderbilt (5-1-1) on Sunday at the Auburn Soccer Classic. Junior forward Alysha Bonnick scored in the second half to overcome an early Vanderbilt goal. The victory, coupled with Auburn's 3-2 defeat of Texas Tech, gave the Tigers the title of tournament champs.

Less than three minutes into the game, Vanderbilt freshman Margaux Andrews gave the Commodores the lead. Vanderbilt's Molly Kinsella played a pass across the Tigers' backline and found Andrews unmarked on the far side. Andrews took a touch and shot low and to her right past Missouri goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore for the first goal of her collegiate career.

Missouri maintained much of the possession in the opening 45 minutes but could not convert the ball control into scoring opportunities as they entered halftime trailing.

But it was a reenergized Missouri side that wasted no time in the second half as they pulled even in the 56th minute. Junior Krista Kruse made a long run up the right sideline from her outside back position and crossed into the penalty area, setting up Bonnick to win the header and direct it inside the near post. It was Bonnick's second goal of the season and 24th of her career.

Dittamore, credited with four saves in the match, and the Missouri defense held strong after conceding the early goal, limiting the Commodore attack to 11 shots, compared to the Tigers' 20. Missouri also held an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks for the game.

Missouri's best chance to go ahead came in the 79th minute as senior striker Kristin Andrighetto muscled her way past the Vanderbilt centerback to create a 1v1 opportunity with Commodores' goalkeeper Rachel Bachtel. Missouri's leading goalscorer fired her shot from inside the penalty area but the onrushing Bachtel made a sliding stop to preserve the tie.

The two teams exchanged scoring opportunities in the two-ten minute overtime periods, with the Commodores outshooting Missouri 5-3. In the first overtime period, Vanderbilt's Candace West nearly scored with 20 seconds remaining but her looping shot struck the top of the crossbar and bounced out of play. In the second overtime, senior Bree Thornton connected on a give-and-go to free herself inside the box but her close range shot was denied by Bachtel with just under four minutes remaining in the match.

The Tigers remain unbeaten on the road this season at 2-0-1, earning their first regular season draw since 2005. Missouri will continue their road trip next weekend at the UCLA invitational where they will face Loyola-Marymount on Friday and No. 5 UCLA on Sunday.