Tigers rebound with rout of Rhode Island
The Missouri women’s soccer team bounced back in a big way from its first loss of the season against DePaul by routing the Rhode Island Rams 7-1 at Walton Stadium on Friday night.
After being shutout by DePaul, seven different Tigers scored in the win. The Missouri attack was constant, as the Tigers outshot the Rams 29-10.
It was the most goals scored in a single game for Missouri since September of 2005 when they posted seven goals against Arkansas State.
“We were waiting for that to happen,” coach Bryan Blitz said. “Rhode Island put up a great fight, but we were patient. I think that’s the difference between this week and last week.”
Senior forward Kristin Andrighetto netted the game’s first goal with just under 23 minutes remaining in the first half.
After receiving a pass from junior forward Alysha Bonnick, Andrighetto maneuvered around a defender and kicked the ball into the goal. It was her second goal of the season, and it raised her career total to 29.
“We definitely played our game tonight and came out hard,” Andrighetto said. “It was a great success. It felt really good after that loss coming out hard and scoring.”
After the game, even Andrighetto lost track of the number of times the Tigers put the ball past Rhode Island goalkeepers junior Jackie Fede and sophomore Tara Murphy.
Missouri goal scorers included Andrighetto, junior midfielder Krista Kruse, freshman midfielder/defender Jessica Greer, senior midfielder Bree Thornton, Bonnick, junior forward/midfielder Kari Adam, and sophomore midfielder Candace Ruff.
Greer’s goal was the first of her career. With just under seven minutes left in the first half, she corralled a pass from sophomore forward/midfielder Jessie Crabtree with her body then flicked it over the Rhode Island goalkeeper for the Tigers’ third goal of the night.
“I had a chance against Iowa [to score career goal number one], but I got a little excited,” Greer said. “I was just glad to finish it today.”
Rhode Island’s only score came with a minute and a half left in the first half off the foot of senior forward/midfielder Ina Bjorklid.
Also standing out for the Tigers was freshman midfielder Haley Krentz.
Krentz recorded two assists on the night and almost scored a few times herself, getting two shots off.
Greer had a whopping six shots to lead the Tigers, and Andrighetto had four of her own.
Leading 3-1 at halftime, the Tigers scored four second half goals in a little over ten minutes.
Thornton, who sustained a nose injury during Sunday’s game, scored her first goal of the year and detailed the future of her injury.
“I feel fine,” Thornton said. “I have surgery on Tuesday, so I’ll have to wear a mask after that for a long time.”
Thornton confirmed that her nose was broken, and that it will have to be re-broken in Tuesday’s procedure.
The Tigers improved their record to 3-1 on the season. They will square off against Long Beach State in their next game Sunday morning at Walton Stadium.
