Aug. 12, 2011

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COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri Tigers kicked off the 2011 campaign with a 1-1 draw in an exhibition match against the no. 24 ranked Fighting Illini of Illinois. The game was delayed 15 minutes due to lighting in the area and drizzle came down throughout the match.

Tiger Forward Danielle Nottingham scored early in the second half to give the Tigers the lead and Illinois pulled level in the middle of the second half. The Tigers outshot the Illini 15-11, and redshirt freshman goalkeeper McKenzie Sauerwein and freshman keeper Caroline Stanley combined for five saves.

After the delay, the Tigers took no time to press the Illinois defense, Taiwo Adeshigbin hit the cross bar in the 10th minute of the match for the first chance of the game.

Nottingham swung the momentum in Missouri's favor 10 minutes into the second half after she and Taiwo Adeshigbin pressured the Illini center defender into giving the ball away and then Nottingham put the ball in the back of the net.

Midway through the second half the Tigers again were on the offensive as senior Kendra Collins got loose on the left flank crossing a ball to the middle of the box but the cross was cut out by an Illinois defender.

Then in the 64th minute Illini sophomore Vanessa DiBernardo equalized with a goal from the top of the box, after a diving save from Stanley.

Less then five minutes later the Tigers were again pressing for a goal as a cross deflected off one of the Illinois defenders forcing their keeper into a diving save.

Missouri returns to action next Friday with their first road trip of the season at San Diego for their regular season opener. The Tigers then return for their home opener on Sunday August, 21 at 6:30 pm.