Tiger soccer falls to Aggies 4-2
The Tigers are currently seventh in the Big 12 and have lost four of their last six games.
Published Oct. 19, 2010
The battle to reach the Big 12 Tournament got a little harder on Sunday, as the Missouri Tigers soccer team fell to No. 7 Texas A&M by a score of 4-2. It was their second loss of the weekend after Texas defeated them 1-0.
Senior captain Alysha Bonnick opened the scoring for Missouri on Sunday in the second minute when she connected on a cross across the box. After A&M tied the game before halftime, Bonnick once again helped put the Tigers ahead in the 54th minute.
“There was a scramble in the box,” Bonnick said. “Haley (Krentz) had a clear shot, but she didn’t take it. So I just nicked it with the end of my heel and Krista got the end of it.”
As the game wore on, the Aggies played with better ball control, spreading the Tiger defense out and gaining breakaways. Missouri ended up allowing two unanswered goals, and the Aggies came away with the win. Blitz said the Aggies deserved a lot of credit.
“I think there’s always a mental fatigue,” coach Bryan Blitz said. “I think they had a good gameplan. They played good counterattack soccer. Hats off to them, and that’s probably why they’re near the top of the league.”
The Tigers have now lost four of their last six games, including the current three-game losing streak. Because they sit at seventh in the Big 12, the significance of the final matches is not lost on the players.
“It’s important that we win these next three games,” senior captain Kari Adam said. “I think we played well today, we just couldn’t get enough goals to win. I think right now we’re in an okay position, but we definitely need to go into these next few games fresh.”
The Tigers will most likely have to finish the regular season without starting sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Gwin. After making a couple crucial saves, Gwin was shaken up midway in the second half while diving into traffic to make a save. Gwin remained in the game until being subbed for in the final minutes to get checked out by the team doctors for concussion-like symptoms.
“She didn’t even know the score of the game,” Blitz said. “Our doctors will determine what that was about. If she’s not able to play, I’m confident (backup keeper) Paula (Pritzen) will do a good job.”
Despite Gwin’s injury and the final score, Blitz seemed pleased with how his team played against the top-ranked Aggies. Adam said if the team makes the Big 12 Tournament, they will be a poised group.
“I think especially going into the tournament, you know you can take on anybody,” Adam said. “You just have a whole ‘nother level of confidence. But right now I think it’s important for us to focus on these three games.“
Missouri’s next three opponents are a combined 4-22-1 in conference play. Blitz said the Tigers are staying positive about finishing the regular season on a high note.
“Certainly a loss always hurts, but it’s all about the effort, and it’s all about how we go into next week at practice,” Blitz said. “And you know, our goal is still intact. It’s going to be difficult, but so what? We get to go on the road, and if we play like we did today, we have an opportunity to be successful next weekend.”