Sept. 27, 2009

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COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's soccer team (6-4-1, 1-0-0) opened Big 12 Conference play on Sunday with a 3-2 victory over the No. 12 Oklahoma State Cowgirls (7-4-0, 1-2-0) at Walton Stadium. The Tiger seniors stole the show, as Bree Thornton netted twice, Michelle Collins scored the game-winner, and Tasha Dittamore put forth one of her best efforts of the season.

Thornton put the Tigers ahead in the 16th minute, when she collected the ball near the top of the box, turned to face the net, and struck a hard shot into the top right corner of the net. Two minutes later, Thornton scored again after she got her foot on the end of a Michelle Collins cross, making the score 2-0 going into halftime.

Oklahoma State's Siera Strawser nearly got the Cowgirls on the board a minute into the second half, but her shot was tipped just high of the crossbar by a fully-stretched Dittamore. In the 58th minute, however, Strawser would contribute to the first Cowgirl goal. After having her shot blocked in the box, the ball rolled to a waiting Melinda Mercado who tapped in the goal to make the score 2-1.

The Cowgirls would draw level in the 71st minute, when Krista Lopez got the ball off a deflection and put the equalizer past Dittamore. The Tigers notched the game-winner five minutes later, however, when Kristin Andrighetto swung in a corner kick that bounced off OSU goalkeeper Adrianna Franch to Michelle Collins, who scored her third goal of the season.

Dittamore made the most important of her six total saves in the 82nd minute after Oklahoma State was awarded a penalty kick. The Cowgirls' Annika Niemeier sent her shot low and to the right, but a diving Dittamore snatched it before it could cross the goal line. The save proved to be the difference maker, as the Tigers held on for the 3-2 victory.

The Tigers return to action next weekend as they travel to Texas for games against conference rivals Texas on Friday, Oct. 2, and Texas A&M on Oct. 4.