Second-Half Comeback Falls Short in Loss to Mizzou

Sunday, October 18

Columbia, MO

2:00 PM

University of Tennessee

7-3-5, 3-3-2SEC

Missouri

7-4-4, 5-2-1SEC

Tennessee

Mizzou

October 18, 2015 | Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 18, 2015

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. --A valiant second-half comeback attempt fell short for the Tennessee soccer team on Sunday afternoon in a 3-1 loss to Missouri.

The loss was the first for the Vols on the road this season after going 2-0-4 in their previous six road contests.

The Tigers (7-4-4, 5-2-1 SEC) jumped out to an early lead with a goal by Reagan Russell on the first shot of the game by either team. Russell’s shot from the edge of the box dropped in perfectly between Julie Eckel’s outstretched hand and the crossbar to give Missouri a 1-0 lead in the 6th minute.

Tennessee (7-3-5, 3-3-2 SEC) caught a tough break in the 39th minute when Gabby Santorio was sent off after receiving a red card, leaving the Vols with only ten players for the remainder of the game.

Less than a minute later the Tigers doubled their lead on a strike by Jessica Hermann that deflected in off the right post.

The Volunteers had a tough time generating chances and were only able to muster two shots in the first 45 minutes.

Even down a player, the Vols came out firing and cut the lead to one early in the second half on Amy Neal’s fifth goal of the year. Neal took a pass from Anna McClung and dribbled around Missouri goalkeeper Kristen Rivers before slotting it into an open net to make it 2-1. Neal is now tied for the team lead with McClung in goals with five. The junior from Los Alamos, N.M., also led UT with three shots on the afternoon.

Eckel kept Tennessee in the game with an incredible save from point-blank range in the 56th minute after a cross from Russell found Kaitlyn Clark all alone from six yards out. Clark also hit the post a few minutes later.

The Vols best chance to tie the game came in the 71st minute on a header by Anna Bialczak that was punched over the crossbar by Rivers.

Missouri regained its two-goal lead in the 76th minute after Jessica Johnson was taken down in the box by Susan Ferguson. Candace Johnson converted the penalty kick for the Tigers to make it 3-1 with just under 15 minutes to play.

Despite being down a player, the Volunteers posted seven shots and earned all three of their corner kicks in the second half.

Sunday’s game marked just the third time this season that Tennessee has allowed multiple goals in a single game. The other two were losses to No. 14 Auburn and No. 12 Florida.

The Vols return to Regal Stadium next weekend for their final two home games of the season. They host Ole Miss on Friday at 7 p.m. and Kentucky on Sunday at 5 p.m. for Senior Night.