COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Mizzou soccer team erupted for three goals against a stout Tennessee defense to post a 3-1 win over the visiting Volunteers on Senior Day Sunday at Walton Stadium. Tennessee had allowed only eight goals in the team's first 14 matches of the year before the Tigers found the back of the net three times on Sunday.
With the win, Mizzou improved to 7-4-4 overall and 5-2-1 in Southeastern Conference action, while Tennessee fell to 7-3-5 and 3-3-2.
Seniors Candace Johnson (Dallas, Texas) and Reagan Russell (Sugar Land, Texas) and redshirt sophomore Jessica Herrman (Raytown, Mo.) all tallied goals for the Tigers, with Herrman's the ultimate game-winner.
Russell wasted no time putting Mizzou on the board early with her second tally of the season in the sixth minute of action. She gathered a blocked shot outside the box, dribbled to her left and chipped a 19-yard attempt over the Tennessee keeper and below the crossbar for a 1-0 Tiger lead.
Less than a minute after a Volunteer was send off with a red card, nice give-and-go passing put the Tigers up 2-0 in the 40th minute. Stationed on the endline, sophomore Allie Hess chested a pass to Herrman in front of the net, who knocked the eventual game-winner past the keeper and into the upper right netting. The tally was Herrman's third of the season, which ranks second on the squad.
Tennessee cut Mizzou's lead to 2-1 only three minutes into the second half when Amy Neal got behind the Tiger defense and calmly slotted a low shot into the net.
Missouri kept up its offensive pressure following the Tennessee goal. A leading pass from junior Lauren Selaiden (Carrollton, Texas) to sophomore Jessica Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif.) in the box had the sophomore one-on-one with the Volunteer keeper, forcing a Tennessee defender commit a foul on Jessica Johnson in the box for a Tiger penalty kick. Candace Johnson stepped to the spot and easily knocked her second PK of the season past the keeper for a 3-1 Mizzou edge. The goal also gave Candace Johnson a career single-season best six points on two goals and two assists.
The Tigers outshot the Volunteers 17-9 overall in the match, including a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Redshirt sophomore keeper Kristen Rivers (Lawrenceville, Ga.) made three saves in goal in the win.
Mizzou hits the road next weekend to face Alabama and Vanderbilt. The Tigers and Crimson Tide play Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. and take on the Commodores on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.
