Texas A&M
Missouri
Soccer Falls to No. 20 Missouri
Oct 19, 2008 | Soccer
Oct. 19, 2008
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 6 Texas A&M soccer team suffered a 3-0 loss to No. 20 Missouri on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the Aggie Soccer Stadium. The Aggies fell behind 2-0 in the first half and put together multiple offensive chances, but could not rally past the Tigers.
The loss drops A&M to 12-2-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the Big 12, while Mizzou picks up their fifth win in the conference and improves to 11-4-0 overall and 5-2-0 in conference play.
"I thought Missouri outhustled us today, and that hustle created chances and they scored from them," said head coach G Guerrieri. "Even though we took more shots, Missouri wanted it more than we did. We worked hard and there were a lot of great efforts out there, but we have to have it from all 11 players to beat teams like this."
The Tigers put pressure on A&M two minutes into the match and sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Dyer kept Missouri off the scoreboard with a one-handed save on a quick header inside the six-yard box off of a corner kick.
A minute later the Aggies were on the attack. Freshman Laura Grace Robinson. The senior put her foot on the ball, but the Mizzou keeper came off her line to make a diving save.
Missouri's pressure paid off 30 minutes into the match as Candace Ruff's cross was collected in the six-yard box by Ashley Hamblin. Hamblin struck a low shot into the right-side netting to get the Tigers out to a 1-0 lead.
With three minutes remaining in the first half, Mizzou struck again as Kari Adam received the ball from Hamblin inside the penalty box. Adam's hit a strike inside the far post and into the back of the net. Missouri led 2-0 at the half after firing off six shots, five of which were on frame.
A&M came out firing in the second period and after three minutes of play freshman Becca Herrera dribbled down the left flank and dished the ball off to fellow freshman Beth West in the middle of the field. The Cenntennial, Colo., native found sophomore Rachel Shipley at the top of the box and the midfielder fired a shot that went just off frame.
On a free kick from Herrera six minutes later, freshman Bri Young headed a strong shot on goal, but into the waiting arms of Tasha Dittamore.
Freshman Raven Tatum had one of A&M's best scoring chances at the 60-minute mark as she blasted a shot from inside the penalty area towards the left post, but Dittamore punched the ball out for one of her five saves of the game.
"I thought Raven was our most dangerous forward today," said Guerrieri. "(Having her up front) puts our best players on the field and he's a scary customer to be facing."
The Aggies were unable to overcome the two-goal deficit throughout the second half, despite having a better run of play on the offensive end with 15 shots to just five from the Tigers. A&M also held the overall advantage in corner kicks 5-3.
The final goal of the match came as Mizzou's Krista Kruse found the back of the net on a header off of a free kick from Janelle Cordia in the 87th minute.
The Aggies return to the pitch on Friday, Oct. 24 to take on Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, before traveling to Colorado on Sunday.
