Blitz Earns 250th Win at Mizzou in 4-1 Victory over Kentucky

Sunday, November 1

Columbia, Mo.

Noon

University of Missouri

2-2-2, 2-2-1

Kentucky

0-4-3, 0-4-3

Kentucky

Missouri

Blitz Earns 250th Win at Mizzou in 4-1 Victory over Kentucky

11/1/2020 4:26:00 PM | Soccer

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Tigers explode for four first-half goals in 31:57 to earn three points

By: Ethan Triebsch

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Soccer started the match on fire and did not look back as the Tigers secured a dominant 4-1 win over Kentucky (0-4-3), Sunday afternoon at Walton Stadium. The four first-half goals by the Tigers (2-2-2) paved the way for head coach Bryan Blitz to claim his 250th win at the helm of the program.

Mizzou scored four goals by 31:57 – the third-fastest the team has scored four goals in a match in program history, and only the sixth time the Tigers have scored four goals in the first half.

TURNING POINT

The Tigers poured in goals early as the offense found its rhythm in the first few minutes of the match. After a trio of shots on goal and a hectic first few minutes in the Kentucky box, the scoring started courtesy of Macy Trujillo who curled in a long pass from Zoe Cross in the fourth minute. Just two minutes later, Lindsey Whitmore scored from the left wing on an arching ball that went just over the Kentucky goalkeeper, and rolled off the cross bar for a goal. Bella Alessi provided the assist on a short pass to Whitmore, while Trujillo was ready in the box to provide back up.

Whitmore's goal put Mizzou up 2-0 in roughly six minutes.

Later in the half, Mizzou found another pair of goals in quick succession as freshman forward Jenna Bartels found her first goal in the Black and Gold after snatching the ball from a Wildcat defender at the end of the box and firing home a point-blank shot past the keeper in the 29th minute. Just a few moments later in the 32nd minute, Eryka McIntyre would hit an incredible shot into the upper right portion of the net from distance to solidify the already impending Mizzou victory.

While Mizzou turned down the heat in the second half, the Wildcats were able to find a last-minute goal with two seconds remaining on the clock as Jordyn Rhodes converted a penalty kick after a Mizzou foul in the box. The singular Kentucky goal would not be enough to top the Tigers as Mizzou held on to grab the 4-1 victory.

TOP TIGERS

Senior midfielder Macy Trujillo bagged her second goal on the season and claims her first goals in back-to-back games since joining the Tigers in 2017. She also had three shots on goal.
Fellow senior midfielder Lindsey Whitmore secured her first goal since 2017 with a strike in the sixth minute of action.
Freshman forward Jenna Bartels scored the first goal of her career.
Eryka McIntyre also grabbed her first career goal and in stunning fashion as the sophomore defender chipped in a shot from midfield.
Sophomore goalkeeper Isabella Alessio had six saves on 18 shots faced —the most for her as a Tiger.

Notes

Head coach Bryan Blitz secured his 250th win at Mizzou, elevating his record to 250-213-38 in the Black and Gold. Blitz is one of four active coaches in the SEC to win 250 matches at their current institution.
The victory is also Mizzou's 250th as a program.
The Tigers are riding a three-match unbeaten streak – the longest streak in SEC play since going 2-0-1 between Oct. 4-16 during the 2016 season.
With the four goals, Mizzou ties the conference lead for most goals scored in a match this season.
The last time Mizzou scored four goals in a half was a second-half outburst against Georgia on Oct. 23, 2016.
Mizzou took 31 minutes to score four goals which stands as the third-fastest in team history, and the fastest since scoring four goals against Baylor in 25:22 (Oct. 16, 2009).
Mizzou has not scored four goals in the first half since the victory over the Bears in 2009.
The Tigers' three-goal margin of victory is tied for the highest since defeating Albany 3-0 on Sept. 17, 2017.
Mizzou's 22 shots are tied for the most since the Sept. 13, 2018 meeting with Kentucky. The Tigers' 10 shots on target are tied for the most since their matchup with Texas A&M in the SEC Soccer Tournament on Oct. 31, 2017.
Mizzou continues its dominant record over Kentucky, improving to 9-2-1 in a series which dates back to 1998. With the victory today, Mizzou extends its home win streak over the Wildcats to five.
Isabella Alessio's six saves on the day are the most for a Tiger keeper since Gillian Schulte had seven against Texas A&M on Oct. 27, 2019.

Up Next

Mizzou will take its last true road trip of the season as it faces Georgia on Friday night in search of its first win in Athens since 2016. Kickoff from Turner Soccer Complex is set for 6:00 p.m. CT with the match streaming on SEC Network+.

The Tigers are currently in a tie for eighth in the SEC standings entering the final week of the regular season. The top 10 teams will receive a first round bye.

For all the latest on Mizzou Soccer, stay tuned to www.MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @MizzouSoccer.