WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Redshirt senior Lauren Flynn (Dardenne Prairie, Missouri) scored in the 103rd minute as the Mizzou soccer team completed a 3-2 double overtime comeback victory over Purdue Sunday afternoon (Aug. 30) in the final game of the Boilermaker Challenge Cup. The Tigers, which also received goals from junior Lauren Selaiden (Carrollton, Texas) and sophomore Kaitlyn Clark (Liberty, Missouri), twice came back from one-goal deficits to earn the win.
Mizzou improved to 2-1-1 on the season, while handing Purdue its first loss of the year to fall to 3-1-0.
With the score tied 2-2 in the second overtime session, junior Rachel Hignett ripped a shot that was blocked by a Purdue defender. The rebound went to Flynn, who unleashed a shot that hit off the crossbar and bounced over the goal line. The tally was Flynn's third career goal and first of the 2015 season. Hignett assisted on two of the Tigers' three goals for her first two career points.
Over the course of the game, the Tigers outshot the Boilermakers 23-12, including a 6-1 edge in both overtimes.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Kristen Rivers (Lawrenceville, Georgia) earned her first win in net for the Tigers after coming on in the fifth minute after freshman Kelsey Dossey (Plainfield, Indiana) was injured. Rivers tallied two saves in 98 minutes.
Mizzou finished second in the Boilermaker Challenge Cup as Flynn, senior Candace Johnson (Dallas, Texas) and junior Melanie Donaldson (Florissant, Missouri) were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Despite good chances from Mizzou over the first 45 minutes, Purdue entered the break with a 1-0 lead after a goal in the 41st minute. Both Candace Johnson and Clark had near-misses in the first half, with a long-range free kick from Johnson that bounced off the crossbar and a shot that went just wide by Clark.
The Tigers finally got on the board in the 58th minute with a laser of a shot from Selaiden. A rebound off a shot from sophomore Jessica Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif.) bounced to Selaiden, who unleashed a 20-yard shot into the right netting for a 1-1 game.
After Purdue took a 1-0 lead in the 84th minute, Clark and Hignett wasted no time in again evening the match at 2-2. Hignett sent a ball up to Clark, whose one-on-one chance was initially saved by the Purdue keeper. Clark pounced on the rebound, dribbled around the keeper and sent a left-footed shot into the back of the net.
The two teams played a scoreless first overtime session after the Boilermaker defense stuffed senior Reagan Russell (Sugar Land, Texas) at the goal line.
Mizzou returns home to face Oregon State on Friday, Sept. 4 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast live on SEC Network +.
