Buffs Fall 5-3 To No. 25 Missouri In Big 12 Tournament Play

Wednesday, November 3

San Antonio, Texas

TBA

Colorado

11-8-1

Missouri

13-6-1

Colorado

Missouri

Buffs Fall 5-3 To No. 25 Missouri In Big 12 Tournament Play

November 03, 1999 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Lindsay Lew, Assistant Director

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -The University of Colorado women's soccer team (11-8-1, 4-5-1 Big 12 regular season) fell to the No. 25 University of Missouri (13-6-1, 6-3-1 Big 12 regular season) in Big 12 Postseason Tournament play Wednesday night by a score of 5-3.

"They punished us for the mistakes we made, and they're good at finishing," said head coach Austin Daniels. "I was proud of the way we battled to the end. We never gave up. We tried to make it a close game, but time ran out on us."

Missouri jumped out to an early lead when junior Amy Timmerman finished a deflection off Buffalo keeper Danielle Bassett at the 11 :05 mark. Colorado evened the score when sophomore forward Suzy Kiefer beat a Missouri defender and then Tiger keeper Jackie Adamec for her eighth goal of the season at the 22:50 mark. The Tigers came roaring back less than nine minutes later when Nikki Thole knocked Erin Grimsley a short pass in the box which Grimsley ripped in to go up 2-1 with 14:45 to play in the half.

The Buffs trailed in shots with five to Missouri's nine, with Bassett pulling in three saves to Adamec's three. Sophomore midfielder Heather Zonker led the Buffs with two shots, with Grimsley and Thole chipping in two apiece as well. The Buffs also got team saves from Kyley Ellenberger and Sarah Nowfel.

The Tigers poured on the offense in the second half, scoring two quick goals. The third MU goal came at the 49:50 mark, when Suzanne Probst corralled in a loose ball in the box and placed it in the upper ninety. Thole scored her first goal of the game and 18th of the season when Timmerman played in a short cross which Thole finished with a diving header with 34:49 to play in the game giving the Tigers a three goal lead, 4-1. Timmerman assisted Thole again just minutes later when she passed to Thole, who turned and struck from 15 yards out, with
27:43 to play to go up 5-1.

Colorado struck back late, when freshman Jessi Burgener lofted a ball in the box to senior forward Shawn Kenyon, who flicked the ball into the goal over Adamec's head at the 70:00 mark, to draw the Buffs to within three, 5-2. Zonker drew the Buffs to within two with 1 :47 to play off a cross from junior forward Melissa Cartmell, which Zonker volleyed in from the six yard box. However, the Buffalo rally came up short, with the final score remaining 5-3.

Missouri outshot the Buffs 17-11, with Kenyon and Zonker each notching three shots to lead the Colorado offense, and Thole and Grimsley with three apiece to lead the Tigers. Bassett pulled six saves on the day, with Missouri starter Adamec earning six saves as well. Colorado now falls to 0-2 all-time in Big 12 tournament play, and 1-19-1 against ranked teams. Missouri will play Iowa State, who were shootout winners over Texas A&M, at 4:00 p.m. MST Thursday.

Barring a postseason berth, the Buffs wrap up the 1999 season with a record of 11-8-1, 4-5-1 in Big 12 regular season play. Senior Shawn Kenyon played her final game in a Buffalo uniform, notching her 15th career goal in the loss. She is the first player ever to letter four years at CU, the lone member of the Buffalo graduating class of 2000. Colorado finishes the season with 11 wins, a program best, and returns all 11 starters for the 2000 season.