ATHENS, Ga. – The Mizzou soccer team scored four second half goals to overcome an early 2-0 deficit and notch a 4-3 win over Georgia on Sunday afternoon in Athens, Ga. The win improved the Tigers' record to 11-5-1 overall and 6-3-1 in Southeastern Conference action, while the Bulldogs fell to 5-11-1 and 2-8-0.
Trailing 2-0 at the break, Mizzou tallied twice in the first two minutes of the second half to tie the score and added two more goals to complete the comeback win. It was the second two-goal deficit Missouri recovered from this season, as the team also defeated Central Arkansas 3-2 after trailing 2-0. Additionally, Sunday's match marked the first time Mizzou scored four goals in a half since it tallied four in the second half of a 5-1 win over Memphis in the 2012 season opener.
Georgia took early control with goals in the sixth and seventh minutes for a quick 2-0 lead over Missouri, an advantage that held through the first half.
Freshman Sarah Luebbert (Jefferson City, Mo.) pulled the Tigers within one goal only 44 seconds into the second half. She corralled a loose ball in the box turned a defender and slotted a left-footed strike into the back of the net. The goal was Luebbert's 10th of the season, which ties her for second on Mizzou's all-time freshman goals list. Additionally, she concluded the game with 24 points, the second-most ever for a Tiger freshman.
One minute later, junior Kaitlyn Clark (Liberty, Mo.) pounced on a rebound from Luebbert and beat the Bulldog keeper to the left post to knot the score at 2-2.
The Missouri offense continued to put pressure on Georgia and finally broke through to give the Tigers its first lead of the match in the 59th minute of play. Clark send in a cross from the left endline that found junior Jessica Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif.), who turned to put the ball on her left foot and beat the Bulldog keeper to her right.
Redshirt freshman Madison Lewis (Zionsville, Ind.) added Mizzou's fourth goal when she headed a loose corner over a Georgia defender stationed at the right post in the 76th minute. Junior Savannah Trujillo (Kansas City, Mo.) was credited with an assist on the play.
The Bulldogs added their third goal off a corner in the 85th minute but could not manage an equalizer in the final five minutes of regulation.
Missouri outshot Georgia 20-16, including a 13-7 edge in shots on goal.
The Tigers conclude the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 27, when the team hosts No. 20 Florida at 8 p.m. CT live on the SEC Network.
