Late Goal Lifts Soccer Team
Posted on 16. Sep, 2012 by Alyssa McKee in Sports, Sports Articles
Sunday, September 16-
The No. 21 Missouri Tigers defeated the reigning Southeastern Conference regular season champion South Carolina Gamecocks 1-0 on the road Sunday afternoon. The victory improves the Tigers’ record to 7-1 (2-0).
Offensive rhythm came at a premium to both teams during the first half, with the Gamecocks’ only real threat posed by freshman forward Coryn Bajema as she drilled a shot off the crossbar.
It wasn’t until the second half that the match picked up pace. The Tigers fired off 14 shots to South Carolina’s one. Frustrated by the Tigers’ ferocious and unrelenting defense, the Gamecocks turned to fouls, committing 11 in the second half alone, but to no avail.
A major headline for Missouri this week has been coach Bryan Blitz looking to reincorporate star junior forward, Alyssa Diggs. Diggs continues to make her return to the Tigers’ line up after a hamstring injury suffered earlier this season against UC Santa Barbara.
However, it was junior midfielder Dominique Richardson rather than Diggs who finally broke through for the Tigers in the waning minutes of the match.
In the 88th minute, Missouri sophomore Abi Raymer fed teammate Richardson from the top of the box. This set Richardson up for a turnaround strike and goal to put the Tigers up 1-0 before time expired. The game winning shot was Richardson’s third goal of the season.
Richardson’s goal was only the second time a team has scored on South Carolina goalie Sabrina D’Angelo all season.
With four SEC teams nationally ranked in the Top 25, every win is crucial for Missouri. The Tigers look to continue their statement inaugural SEC season next week, as they host a pair of unranked divisional opponents in Ole Miss at 6:30 p.m. September 21 and Vanderbilt on September 23 at 1:30 p.m.
-Megan Armstrong
23 Sports
Staff Writer