Andrighetto's Goal Lifts Missouri Past Kansas, 3-2 in Overtime
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Missouri senior Kristin Andrighetto’s blast from 25 yards out in the 96th minute lifted the top-seeded Tigers to a 3-2 overtime victory over Kansas Wednesday in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Soccer Championship at the Blossom Soccer Complex.
The loss eliminates the Jayhawks from the conference tournament and drops them to 12-8-2 overall, while MU improves to 13-5-3 and advances to face Oklahoma State in the semifinals Friday.
For the second time in five days, the Jayhawks and Tigers tangled in a see-saw affair, which ended in overtime on Andrighetto’s goal. After thwarting a run into the box midway through the extra period, Kansas attempted to clear the ball, but sent it to Andrighetto outside of the box. The MU senior gathered, made a move around a defender and fired a shot into the top of the net advancing the Tigers.
Kansas became just the second No. 8 seed in Big 12 Championship history to take its quarterfinal match to overtime. In the 10 years that the conference tournament has included eight teams, the No. 8 seed has not advanced past the opening round. The overtime loss also marked the second time in as many years that KU and MU have locked up in the Big 12 tournament. Neither match has been decided in regulation time.
The Jayhawks took a 1-0 lead Wednesday, late in the first half as Emily Cressy finished a shot with her left foot off a feed from Jeannette Francia at 29:23. The sophomore defender sent a ball from midfield to Cressy just outside the box on the near side, where the forward made a move to the inside and scored her 12th goal of the season into the top of the net.
Cressy’s 12th goal of the season ties her for the second-most in a season by a Jayhawk with Caroline Smith, who had 12 her freshman year of 2002. It was also the sophomore’s third goal of the year against Missouri.
Missouri tied the score on Jessie Crabtree’s fifth goal of the season early in the second half. After a corner kick, KU headed the ball up to the far corner of the box where Crabtree gathered and fired a shot into the top near corner of the net at 46:24.
Kansas responded quickly with a corner kick of its own. Senior Monica Dolinsky sent a perfect ball to the goal mouth where senior Kim Boyer redirected into the back of the net with her head for her first goal of the season at 47:09. The assist was her 10th of the season, and 30th of her career, moving her into 17th all-time in Big 12 history.
The Tigers found the equalizer at 56:11 of the second half. After a pass to the top of the box by Crystal Wagner, Missouri senior Kristin Andrighetto finished with a shot high to the near corner of the net with a blast from 18 yards out.
After an even first half, the Tigers dominated the pace of play in the second half, outshooting the Jayhawks 24-5 in the second period. Kansas goalkeeper Kat Liebetrau made four of her five saves in the second half.
The 30 shots registered by Missouri were a season-high against KU, which had to win a play-in game Monday against Texas Tech just to advance to the quarterfinal round Wednesday.
The loss likely ends KU’s season at 12-8-2. The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Monday, Nov. 9.
