Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Missouri
Cowgirls Drop Heartbreaker To Missouri
September 27, 2009 | Cowgirl Soccer
Sept. 27, 2009
Final Stats 
|
Final Stats
COLUMBIA, Mo. (OSU Athletics) -- Oklahoma State's second-half comeback fell short Sunday at Walton Stadium as the Cowgirls dropped a 3-2 match to Missouri.
With the loss, OSU fell to 7-4-0 overall and 1-2-0 in Big 12 Conference play, while Missouri opened its league schedule with a victory and improved to 6-4-1 overall.
"I'm disappointed in our first-half performance. We came out and (Missouri's) physical, aggressive play really took us out of our game, and we didn't compete well enough," said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael. "In the second half, we came out and played very well and created a lot more chances and did the things we were supposed to do.
"If we had played in the first half like we did in the second half, I think the outcome would have been a whole lot different for us."
Missouri got on the scoreboard first when Bree Thornton muscled the ball away from an OSU defender and then blasted a shot to the upper near post from 14-yards out in the match's 15th minute.
Less than two minutes later, the Tigers went up 2-0, compliments of another goal by Thornton as she delivered a cross from Michelle Collins into the back of the net at the 17:22 mark.
Mizzou nearly added another goal in the 27th minute when Jessica Greer blasted a shot from 15-yards out, but OSU goalie AD Franch made a diving save to keep the Tigers from adding to their lead.
With just over 10 minutes remaining in the opening half, OSU created one of its best scoring chances, but a cross into the box by Krista Lopez was booted away by a Mizzou defender.
The teams would go into the halftime locker room with the Tigers still leading 2-0, but just over a minute into the second half, the Cowgirls had another strong opportunity to get on the scoreboard. However, Siera Strawser's blast from 16-yards out was tipped over the crossbar by a leaping Tasha Dittamore.
OSU was finally able to convert a scoring opportunity in the 57th minute. Off a corner kick, Strawser collected the ball and delivered a shot that Dittamore saved but was unable to control. Melinda Mercado was there to boot the rebound into the back of the net for her first goal of the season to cut the Cowgirls' deficit to 2-1.
The Cowgirls would get the equalizer in the 71st minute. After a shot by Sarah Brown was blocked, Krista Lopez was able to corral the ball and send a shot past Dittamore to knot the score at 2-2. The goal was the first of the season for Lopez.
After OSU was whistled for offsides to squash a potential go-ahead opportunity, Mizzou got one of its own with just over 16 minutes remaining. But Alysha Bonnick's shot hit crossbar, and Franch was able to save a shot by Michelle Makasini to keep the game tied.
Mizzou would not squander its next chance, however. Off a corner kick, Franch came after the ball but was unable to control it. Collins was able to gain possession and score her third goal of the season to put the Tigers on top at the 75:53 mark.
OSU had a golden opportunity to again tie the score with just 8:50 left in the match when the Tigers were whistled for a foul in the box, awarding the Cowgirls a penalty kick. But Dittamore made a diving save of the shot by Annika Niemeier to secure the Mizzou lead.
Franch finished with a career-high eight saves for the Cowgirls.
OSU returns to action this weekend with road contests at Iowa State on Friday and Nebraska on Sunday.
