COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Soccer (3-4-1) secured a 1-0 victory over Kentucky (4-5-0) in its first SEC game of the season Thursday night at Walton Stadium. With the win, the Tigers grabbed their eighth straight win versus the Wildcats to keep their SEC conference opener record perfect (7-0).
Yet another defensive opening period for the Tigers saw the match level at halftime. That all changed in the 51st minute, though, as junior forward Sarah Luebbert (Jefferson City, Mo.) drew a penalty, and sophomore midfielder Cassidy Nurnberger (New Haven, Mo.) scored her first collegiate goal to give the Tigers the lead and the win. The Black & Gold offense was humming all night, as the squad registered season-highs in shots (22) and corner kicks (nine).
TURNING POINT
Defense was key for the majority of the first period, regardless of the excessive amount of shots taken by the Tigers. Just six minutes into the second period, a Kentucky foul at the top of the box gave the Tigers an opportunity to put themselves ahead of the defensive fray.
Nurnberger took advantage of her chance at the spot, and put a line-drive into the right side of the net to register her first career goal. The Tigers would not look back for the remainder of the match, using the Nurnberger goal to advance to a 1-0 victory.
TOP TIGERS
- Nurnberger's game winning goal was the first goal of her career.
- Sophomore midfielder/forward Bella Alessi (Fort Collins, Colo.), redshirt junior midfielder Madison Lewis (Zionsville, Ind.) and Luebbert all recorded a team-high four shots against the Wildcats.
- Senior goalkeeper Kelsey Dossey (Plainfield, Ind.) accumulated two saves on her way to her second consecutive shutout victory.
QUOTEABLES
"It was a grind," head coach Bryan Blitz said. "Most of these games are one goal games, so we had to hang on at the end there. I am really proud of this team and the way they continue to fight."
UP NEXT
Missouri will wrap up a three-game home stand and aim for a clean sweep as the Vikings of Portland State travel to Walton Soccer Stadium for a 12 P.M. CT matchup with the Tigers on Sunday, September 16. The game can be viewed in SEC Network+.
