University of Missouri
No. 13 Vanderbilt
Mizzou Soccer Upsets No. 13 Vanderbilt at Home
10/3/2020 10:14:00 PM | Soccer
Tigers earn first win over a ranked opponent since 2015
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Soccer picked up their first win of the 2020 season with a 2-1 win over No. 13 Vanderbilt Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Tigers (1-1) not only improved their record in home openers to 20-3-2 but also pick up a win against a Top 25 opponent for the first time since a 2-1 win against No. 22 Kentucky on Sept. 25, 2015.
The first half was marked by a fast start to the match from Mizzou with four early shots – two on target. Redshirt senior Grace Kitts got an early goal on a set piece starting with a free kick from junior Julissa Cisneros. Cisneros took the free kick from over 25 yards out, and Kitts came up to head to ball in for the early goal in the 13' minute. While Vanderbilt was able to pick up the pace as the half progressed with four shots of their own, they were unable to equalize with the home side before the whistle at the half.
Mizzou kept the pressure on Vanderbilt to start the second half and found a second goal in the form of a stellar strike from senior Cassidy Nurnberger that smacked the left post and found the back of the net just past the outstretched hands of the diving Commodore keeper. That two-goal advantage was short lived as Vanderbilt scored their first goal of the match with a Madi Allen tap-in off a free kick. Despite the late goal and numerous Vanderbilt attempts, the defense stood strong, holding on to their 2-1 advantage for the remainder of the match.
TURNING POINT
Setting the tone early and often, Mizzou created numerous chances at the beginning of the match. In the 13th minute, Cisneros was fouled on a play just outside of the box. Stepping up to take the free kick, Cisneros dropped an in-swinging cross just in front of the goal to find Kitts who headed the ball into the back of the net, giving Missouri the lead. Putting the Tigers up 1-0, the goal was the first on the year for Kitts.
While taking into account a rocket of a goal from Cassidy Nurnberger and a late Vanderbilt score, that one-goal advantage would prove too much for the Commodores to surpass as Mizzou held on to their lead for the remainder of the match.
TOP TIGERS
- Cisneros picks up her first assist of the year and third of her career as she contributed to Mizzou's early goal.
- Grace Kitts picked up her first goal of the season to put the Tigers up early.
- Cassidy Nurnberger claimed her first goal of the season as well as her first goal in open play since joining Mizzou in 2017.
- Making her first career start, freshman Jenna Bartels had the game-winning assist, tapping the ball out of traffic to Nurnberger.
QUOTABLEs
- "It's great to be back home, there's no place like home," head coach Bryan Blitz said. "That was a really exciting one, especially for those seniors . . . I think the response after last week, we talked about coming back strong during the week and being humble and earning it and not being a victim. I think our kids showed that today against a very good Vanderbilt team."
NOTES
- Mizzou picked up their first win against a Top 25 opponent since defeating No. 22 Kentucky (Sept. 25, 2015) and its first win over a Top 15 opponent since defeating No. 9 Auburn 2-1 on Sept. 11, 2015.
- The Tigers snapped a 16-match losing streak against ranked opponents.
- The win snapped a three-match losing streak to Vanderbilt. Mizzou improves to 6-3-2 against the Commodores.
- Since 2010, the Tigers are 9-1-1 in home openers.
- Grace Kitts, Blythe Beldner, Grace Pettet, and Eryka McIntyre all contributed to the win with 90 minutes played in the field.
- Blitz, the only head coach in program history, is now one win shy of 250 wins at Mizzou.
UP NEXT
Next up, Mizzou will travel to Knoxville to take on Tennessee as the Tigers look to make it two wins in a row against the Volunteers. Kickoff from Regal Soccer Stadium is set for 6:00 p.m. CT with the match streaming on SEC Network.
For all the latest on Mizzou Soccer, stay tuned to www.MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @MizzouSoccer.
