Six minutes remained in Missouri’s battle with rival Kansas on Saturday at Walton Stadium. The game was all but lost for the Tigers, who trailed 2-0.
And then they scored. Less than a minute later, they scored again. Four minutes after that, they scored again to win 3-2.
“The last five minutes of that game were the most exciting of my Mizzou soccer career,” junior defender Jessica Greer said. “My sophomore year we came back against Oklahoma, but a comeback against KU is 10 times bigger than any other game.”
The three Tiger goals were scored by the team’s three seniors: Kelsey Blincow, Kendra Collins and Mallory Stipetich, making for a poetic ending.
Assistant coach Danny Graville labeled the come-from-behind victory the best he’s ever been a part of.
“The way everything unfolded with the drama, a great crowd, we had the band here, all three seniors scoring — you couldn’t have scripted it better,” Graville said.
Missouri’s 3-2 comeback victory over Kansas last Friday gave the team back-to-back wins for the first time since Sept. 11, a span of eight games. It has also given the team a renewed sense of confidence heading into its season finale, a Friday night showdown with Iowa State.
“I feel like this week of practice has been one of our best weeks of practice, which is a good thing going into our last home game and the Big 12 Tournament next weekend,” Greer said.
Friday night is senior night for the Tigers, which has made for what players referred to as a “fun atmosphere” at practice this week.
Greer admitted Friday night’s match is not just another game.
“With senior night this week, we want to make sure this game is special,” Greer said. “We want them to remember it forever.”
Each senior has had a practice dedicated to her this week, with the rest of the team chanting her name at the end of practice when the team “breaks it down.”
The Blincow, Collins and Stipetich trio has won 46 games so far at MU and helped the Tigers win consecutive Big 12 Conference titles in 2008 and 2009.
Blincow says the fact that Friday is the last hoorah for her in Walton Stadium hasn’t quite dawned on her yet.
“It hasn’t really hit me,” Blincow said. “I’m really excited, but it probably won’t hit me that this is it until the end of the season.”
Greer admitted the team would have conflicting emotions Friday.
“The mood Friday is going to be a mixture,” Greer said. “You’re going to be sad because you’re losing your seniors, but we want to make sure we come out on top and give them something to remember.”
The players aren’t the only ones hoping to ensure a proper send-off for the seniors. The coaching staff also has made making senior night successful a priority.
“Coach (Bryan Blitz) has been driving it home that these three seniors have been here four years, they’ve been through a lot together and we want to try and finish on a good note for those guys,” Graville said.