Jayhawks Tie Tigers, Eliminated on Penalty Kicks

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Alysha Bonnick’s penalty kick clinched a shootout victory for No. 18 Missouri and eliminated Kansas Friday night in the semifinal round of the Big 12 Soccer Championship at Blossom Soccer Complex.

The match, which officially goes down as a 1-1 tie, went to penalty kicks after 110 minutes of soccer couldn’t decide a winner. With the shootout tied at 3-3, Bonnick’s shot to the far side of the net lifted the Tigers to the Big 12 Championship finals where they will meet Colorado at noon.

Kansas (12-7-2) struck first as Monica Dolinsky tallied an unassisted goal in the sixth minute. The junior forward intercepted a clearing attempt at the top of the box and fired a shot over Missouri goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore for her team-leading ninth goal of the season.

Dolinsky’s 27th point of the season is the most by a Jayhawk since Caroline Smith tallied 32 points in 2004. However, after the goal, KU couldn’t muster much of an attack.

Missouri came out firing in the second half and in the 71st minute, the Tigers tied the score. Meghan Pfeiffer headed a ball off a Janelle Cordia free kick from the far side of the box. Pfeiffer’s header sailed high over goalkeeper Julie Hanley and into the net, knotting the score at one.

Hanley matched a career high with nine saves in the contest, including a couple of point-blank chances late in the second half.

Shannon McCabe had KU’s best chance in the second overtime, coming free on the near side and firing a shot just over the net in the 108th minute.

Missouri outshot KU, 25-8 in the match and had a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks. Dolinsky led the Kansas attack with four shots.

The Jayhawks (12-7-2) will learn their NCAA Tournament fate on Monday evening with the selection show at 7 p.m., carried on ESPNEWS.