Soccer falls to Texas Tech

By Ryan Huber

Published Oct. 3, 2006

The MU soccer team suffered two equally tough losses to Big 12 opponents Texas Tech and Baylor this weekend.

On Friday night against Texas Tech, the Tigers let a 1-1 tie slip away early in the second half, resulting in a 3-1 loss. Against Baylor on Sunday, the squad was shut out for third time this season, 3-0.

"They outworked us," coach Bryan Blitz said after Friday's game. "We pride ourselves on our work ethic, and we got outworked today."

With only one come-from-behind victory this season, the Tigers have not fared well when giving up the first goal. Friday night was no exception. In the 18th minute, Red Raider midfielder Chessa Purser slotted a pass to the on-running Brittney Harrison. Once one-on-one with MU goalkeeper Mallory Forst, Harrison faked a shot, sidestepped Forst and passed the ball into the open net.

Five minutes later, freshman midfielder Meghan Pfeiffer responded with a header goal off a sideline free kick from senior forward Elyse Nikonchuk.

With forward Ashley Hamblin out for the season due to an ACL tear, Blitz moved sophomore midfielder Mo Redmond up to forward to take her place. But just minutes into the game, Redmond sprained her ankle in a collision outside the Red Raider box.

With less offensive punch, the Tigers looked to their defense to step up its play. But less than seven minutes into the second half, Texas Tech scored two quick goals to take a 3-1 lead.

Freshman forward Kristin Andrighetto and Pfeiffer had several second half chances but failed to beat the Tech keeper before the final whistle.

"We got beat on our own floor," Blitz said. "There's no excuse."

Sunday's match against Baylor didn't show much change. Just seven minutes in, Bears midfielder Lauren Weathers lofted a 25-yard shot that held up in the wind just long enough that Forst was forced to punch the ball instead of catch it. The ball bounced off the crossbar and to the foot of forward Anna Schuch, who volleyed it into the net. The Tigers remained flat for the rest of the half as Baylor scored two more to increase its lead to 3-0.

The Tigers came out with new life in the second half, creating chances around the box, but Baylor suppressed the shots, and the game ended in defeat for the Tigers.

"I think any time you lose some key players, it's always hard," Blitz said. "Right now we've lost our hunger. We made silly focus errors, and we continue to play from behind, and until we correct those, we are going to have long games like this."

Before Hamblin was injured against Nebraska on Sept. 22, the team held a 7-2-0 record but has since gone 1-2-0 while being outscored 8-4.

"It's hard," freshman forward Breanna Thornton said after Sunday's loss. "She was definitely a huge part of our attack. We are still working things out."

As for the defense, which has allowed eight goals in three games, sophomore defender Kat Tarr addressed its personality.

"In past years, we have had people just personality-wise who were louder and more aggressive," she said. "We have a backline of really calm-natured girls to begin with. We need to work on stopping being so nice and be strong."