Tigers take Sun Devil Invitational title
The Missouri soccer team claimed the Sun Devil Invitational title Sunday afternoon after defeating host Arizona State by a score of 1-0.
The game remained nodded up at nil-nil until MU freshman Abi Raymer found her way onto the score sheet after blasting a shot past the ASU keeper from 18 yards out in the game’s 87th minute.
The win, which followed MU’s 1-0 defeat of Arizona on Friday, clinched the tournament title for the Tigers, who have now won seven consecutive games to improve their overall record on the season to 7-1.
As is to be expected in a low-scoring affair, the defense for each side was stellar. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper McKenzie Sauerwein was outstanding for the Tigers, stopping all five shots the Sun Devils put on target.
The backline of senior Mallory Stipetich and juniors Jessica Greer and Allison Hu was a force to be reckoned with yet again, as Sunday was the fourth straight shutout by MU and its fifth on the season.
Despite the outstanding team defense, Stipetich was the lone Tiger defender named to the All-Tournament team. Raymer, sophomore Domonique Richardson and Sauerwein also received All-Tournament accolades.
Richardson was named Tournament MVP for her all-around performance. The sophomore from California has arguably been MU’s MVP thus far this season, as she has been integral to the Tigers leading games in the ball possession category.
Richardson and the rest of the 18th ranked Tigers return to action in Columbia next weekend for their final non-conference matches of the year, as they play host to 8th ranked Florida on Friday night and UMKC on Sunday.