The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Missouri
Soccer falls 3-1 to Missouri at Big 12 Championship
11.05.2008 | Soccer
Nov. 5, 2008
SAN ANTONIO -- The University of Texas soccer team fell 3-1 to third-seeded Missouri in the 2008 Big 12 Championship quarterfinals, Wednesday afternoon. The Tigers used three second-half goals to get past the sixth-seeded Horns and advance to the semifinals. Texas will now wait to hear if it will be selected for the 2008 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship, which will be announced on ESPN News at 7 p.m. Central on Monday, Nov. 10.
The Tigers got their offense rolling just eight minutes into the second half after being outshot 8-4 in the first period. UT keeper Dianna Pfenninger came out to challenge a shot by Kristen Andrighetto in the 53rd minute, leaving an open net. With Pfenninger on the ground on the left side of the box, Michelle Collins crossed the ball to middle of the box, where Bree Thompson was able to give MU the 1-0 advantage.
Mizzou struck again three minutes later when Alysha Bonnick received the ball in the center of the Longhorn box and was able to slip it through the Texas defense for her 10th goal of the season.
Down 2-0, the Longhorns rallied and got themselves on the board in the 63rd minute. Junior Emily Anderson played the ball to freshman Courtney Goodson, who was just outside the upper left corner of the Tigers' penalty box. Goodson struck the ball from 20-yards out past the hands of MU keeper Tasha Dittamore for her sixth goal of the season.
The Tigers went on to seal the game with six minutes remaining when Bonnick scored again. Collins flicked the ball over a few Texas defenders to Bonnick, who was able to chip the ball over Pfenninger for the 3-1 win.
The Longhorns' best looks came in the first half as they had five shots on goal in the first 45 minutes. Freshman Amanda Lisberger came off the bench to provide the offensive spark for the Longhorns in the 25th minute. Senior Kasey Moore played the ball down the right to Lisberger, who took one touch too many and sent her shot just wide.
Just a few minutes later, Lisberger got her foot on a Goodson corner kick but Dittamore was able to make a diving save and keep the Longhorns off the board. Moore had a nice look with eight minutes remaining in the half from over 20 yards out but once again, Dittamore was able to dive and make the save.
The Longhorns were outshot 16 to four in the second half and their three goals allowed were the most in a match this season. Texas moves to 12-3-4 while the Tigers are 14-5-0 and will advance to the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship.
MATCH NOTES
- Texas' three goals allowed are the most in a match this season, and the most allowed by UT in a Big 12 Championship match since a 3-2 loss to Colorado in 2005 (Nov. 4).
- The loss was the Longhorns first against Missouri since Nov. 5, 1998, snapping a 10-match unbeaten streak versus the Tigers.
- Texas' quarterfinal loss in the Championship is its first since 2003.
POSTMATCH QUOTES
SENIOR DEFENDER Kasey Moore
On Missouri's elevated play in the second half: They came out ready to play in the second half. They just came out flying and I don't think we were ready for it, and we never really recovered.
On the impact of the wind during the game: It didn't really feel like too much of an impact, it was just their work effort. They just took control of the game and we couldn't really get control back.
On whether Missouri's speed up front gave them problems: I wasn't in the back line this time, so I'm not really sure. It just seems like they were just out-working us.
On the upcoming NCAA tournament: We just need to keep our heads up and realize that the next game is do or die. It's kind of like this one, but if we lose, there's nothing after it.
