EVANSTON, Ill. – The Mizzou soccer team struck first but two late goals from Northwestern gave the Wildcats a 2-1 win over the Tigers Thursday night in Evanston, Illinois. Missouri fell to 2-4-1 on the season with the loss, while Northwestern improved to 3-2-1.
TURNING POINT
With the match knotted at 1-1, Northwestern's Mikayla Hampton juked her defender and sent a low 17-yard shot inside the right post to propel the Wildcats to the home victory. Freshman Tess Rellihan (Kansas City, Missouri) almost equalized for the Tigers in the 87th minute but her shot, which eluded the keeper, rolled inches wide of the right post.
KEY MOMENTS
Mizzou took a 1-0 lead in the 61st minute with a goal from senior Jessica Johnson (Los Angeles, California). The senior, who returned to action Thursday after missing the last three contests due to injury, whipped a strike into the upper netting for her second goal of the season. Freshman Zoe Cross (Pease Pottage, England) earned an assist on the tally.
The Wildcats knotted the match six minutes later when Marisa Viggiano converted a penalty kick for a 1-1 match in the 67th minute of action.
QUOTABLES
Mizzou Head Coach Bryan Blitz
"This was our most complete game to date. It's something to build on for Sunday. I always want to win but I thought we had a good performance. We have to get a complete game. Once we do that, I think we'll go on a run."
MIZZOU NOTES
- Senior Jessica Johnson tallied her second goal of the season and the 12th score of her Mizzou career
- Johnson is Mizzou's active points leader with 35 (12 goals and 11 assists)
- Freshman Zoe Cross earned the first point of her Tiger career with an assist on Johnson's second half goal
- Six of the Tigers' seven goals in 2017 have come in the second half, including Johnson's goal against Northwestern
UP NEXT
Missouri returns to the pitch on Sunday, Sept. 10 when the team hosts San Diego State at 6:30 p.m.
