COLUMBIA, Mo. — Mizzou Soccer (4-4-1) got back to .500 Sunday against Portland State (2-5), riding two goals from junior forward Sarah Luebbert (Jefferson City, Mo.) to its third straight win. The Tigers, who struggled to generate offense in the beginning of the season, have scored five goals in their last three games.
TURNING POINT
Even though the Tigers had dominated play all game, the Vikings found an equalizer just before halftime. It appeared as though the teams might draw, as the second half began as a stalemate, with both teams seeing equal possession.
That all changed in the 60th minute, though, when Luebbert raced down the middle of the field with the ball on a string. She outran what seemed like all eleven players for Portland State, and fired a laser into the left corner of the net. Her second goal of the day, and her second of the season, proved to be the game winner.
TOP TIGERS
- Luebbert scored twice on the day, both coming without assists. She is the first Tiger to score two goals in the same game since she accomplished the feat a season ago against Tennessee.
- Freshman forward Julissa Cisneros (Moreno Valley, Calif) nearly scored on several occasions, firing five shots and three on frame.
- Sophomore midfielder Bella Alessi (Fort Collins, Colo.) was also on the hunt offensively, getting off four shots and putting two on goal.
QUOTEABLES
"We had to take a page out of their book today," head coach Bryan Blitz said, "They came out very excited to play an SEC school, and we didn't match that until the second half. Once we did, we got a positive result. Sometimes, attitude can be the difference."
UP NEXT
The Tigers travel to Athens to face Georgia on Thursday in what will be the team's first conference contest on the road. That game can be viewed on SEC N+ and is slated to kick at 6 p.m CT.
For all the latest on Mizzou Soccer, stay tuned to MUTigers.com or follow the program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@MizzouSoccer).
