Aug. 26, 2011

Box Score

The Missouri State women's soccer team got a late goal just one minute after UT Martin tied the match late and pulled off the first win of the season, 2-1, in Martin, Tenn., this afternoon. The Bears are now 8-0-1 all-time against the Skyhawks and have out-scored UT Martin 31-3 in the series history.

"We battled hard out there today," commented head coach Rob Brewer following the win. "Getting a win on the road is good for this team. From the bench, we could see that Christine's (Cross) strike was going in. It was a good finish on a counter attack. All around good team work on the play."

The Bears got on the board first in the 14th minute. Rachel Weimer and Michelle Sommer had a good combination attack with a few one-touch passes. Weimer found Sommer open in front of the net. A quick move and a nice strike by Sommer found the upper right corner of the net for a 1-0 MSU lead. The goal was Sommer's first of the season and fifth career tally. Weimer's assist marked the second-straight match and fifth time in her last seven games to register at least one point.

The match remained a one-goal advantage for the Bears until the 83rd minute. UT Martin's Rosaelia Loza got off a point blank shot that squeaked past Missouri State goalkeeper Jessica Teahan for the equalizer. Teahan made four saves in the match.

The game didn't remain tied long. The Bears got an outlet pass from the backline to Katelyn Frederickson streaking up the right side. As she closed in on the Skyhawk net, dropped a back pass to Christine Cross who drilled a shot from 25 yards out for the game-winner. It was Cross' first goal of the year and second career game-winning goal.

Missouri State had to put forth solid defense in the closing minutes to preserve the match. UT Martin hit the cross bar with less than two minutes remaining. Then junior Nia Williams made a game-saving clear off the end line with just seconds remaining as the Bears' staved off the furious Skyhawk attack to solidify the victory.

Sommer and Weimer paired up for half of the Bears 14 total shots in the match. Sommer led the team with four while Weimer added three shots.

Missouri State will finish the season-opening road trip with a visit to Vanderbilt on Sunday, August 28 at 1:00 p.m. It will mark the first-ever match-up between the Bears and the Commodores. The Bears will return to Plaster Field to face Kansas in the home opener on Friday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m.