Despite coach Bryan Blitz’s strong assertions that the Missouri goalkeeping position was wide open, redshirt freshman McKenzie Sauerwein may have slammed the door shut on the starting spot with a pair of strong performances last weekend.
Blitz maintains that true freshman keeper Caroline Stanley is still in the hunt.
“Caroline’s far too talented, and she’ll have her say,” Blitz said. “It’s a day-by-day, week-by-week deal.”
Sauerwein may have done enough this week though, as the North Richland Hills, Texas, product made a couple of incredible saves Friday evening en route to a shutout of seventh-ranked and 2011 Final Four member Ohio State.
With the clean sheet, Sauerwein and Missouri sent a firm message that despite their collective youth an impressive array of talent, both in net and on the attack, will ensure that the Tigers will be a contender in every game they play this season.
“This gives us motivation moving forward,” Sauerwein said Friday night. “My defense was amazing and we played as team.”
In Sunday’s matinee against another Big Ten foe, the Purdue Boilermakers, Sauerwein once again rose to the challenge and helped deny a late rally from the visitors as MU registered a third consecutive victory with a 4-2 result.
The 5-foot-8-inch Sauerwein secured her spot in goal for last weekend’s doubleheader with a strong week of practice, edging out Stanley for the starting role and tallying all 180 minutes of action in both wins.
With the Tigers outshooting opponents by an impressive 81-43 tally, Sauerwein knows she must maintain a high level of focus and concentration every time the ball enters her half of the pitch.
“It’s all about refocusing,” Sauerwein said. “After one shot, get ready for the next and move forward. As soon as that ball enters my half of the pitch, I have to get on my line and be ready for a shot.”
That focus was not on display at the very beginning of the Tigers’ season opener in San Diego, as the freshman let some jitters and nerves get the best of her before being yanked in favor of Stanley due in part to an allowance of two early Torero goals.
Blitz allowed Sauerwein to get back on solid ground by playing her in the second half of a 4-1 blowout win against Eastern Illinois, and she rewarded her coach with a strong week of practice leading up to the toughest game of the season thus far against OSU.
Sauerwein was quick on her toes as the Buckeyes utilized their vaunted attack Friday, stuffing two point-blank opportunities in the 28th and 29th minutes and holding off Ohio State’s desperate attempts on the way to her first career shutout as a Tiger.
After following up that momentous triumph with a four-save effort against the Boilermakers, Sauerwein said she is feeling confident as MU prepares for a Friday night fixture against the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks at Audrey J. Walton Stadium.
Friendly competition and a tight-knit family atmosphere have helped defuse any potential conflicts as the freshmen duke it out for the starting nod each week.
“Caroline and I go back and forth and support each other,” Sauerwein said. “We’re a family and we push each other every time we are out there.”
