LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Mizzou soccer team used three first half goals to post a decisive 3-1 win over the No. 9 Kentucky Wildcats on a rainy Friday night in Lexington, Ky. The Tigers received goals from sophomores Savannah Trujillo (Kansas City, Mo.) and Jessica Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif.) and redshirt junior Jessica Herrman (Raytown, Mo.) to tie the team's season high total in tallies.
The win improved to 4-3-3 overall and 2-1-0 in Southeastern Conference action, while the Wildcats fell to 8-2-1 and 2-1-0.
Trujillo broke through with the game's first goal in the 14th minute. She received the ball from junior Melanie Donaldson (Florissant, Mo.) and turned a defender to get a clear shot on goal. Trujillo ripped a shot to the near post that beat the Kentucky keeper for the sophomore's team-leading third goal of the year and a 1-0 Tiger edge.
Mizzou took advantage of a defensive miscue less than a minute later to double its advantage to 2-0. The Wildcat keeper way out to make a play on a ball but a defender passed it back into open space. Johnson ran onto the free ball, took a dribble and easily put an 18-yard shot into the open net. The tally was the first of the year for Johnson and the third of her career.
The Tigers kept up the offensive pressure for much of the first half and were rewarded with a third goal in the 31st minute. Senior Reagan Russell (Sugar Land, Texas) sent a pin-point cross directly in front of the net that Herrman one-timed past the Wildcat goalie for her first goal of the season and a 3-0 Missouri lead.
The Wildcats got on the board with only 18 seconds remaining in the first half after the home team earned a free kick a yard outside the box. Redshirt sophomore keeper Kristen Rivers (Lawrenceville, Ga.) guessed correctly but she had no chance on the dangerous shot but the low, dipping shot from Katy Keen for a 3-1 Mizzou lead.
Kentucky increased its pressure in the second half but Mizzou's defense held firm, with Rivers forced to make two saves in goal.
Missouri had a 16-10 edge in shots, including a 5-3 lead in shots on goal. The Tigers also had six corners to the Wildcats two.
Mizzou heads to Starkville, Miss., on Sunday, Sept. 27 for a 1 p.m. contest against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The match will be broadcast live on SEC Network +.
