Friday night, it was not “home, sweet home” for the Missouri women’s soccer team (13-4, 8-3 Southeastern Conference).
After capturing eight wins at Walton Stadium, the Tigers failed in their ninth attempt, losing 2-1 to Arkansas.
“Hats off to Arkansas,” coach Bryan Blitz said. “They came into our place and they outcompeted us. They played harder than we did.”
Donning all-black uniforms, Missouri came out strong in the opening half. Sophomore midfielder Abi Raymer scored first with 17 minutes left, slapping a shot from well outside the box to the right side of the goal. The lengthy shot hung in the air for several seconds before finding the net.
The goal marked Raymer’s seventh of the year, tying her for most on the team along with senior forward Taiwo Adeshigbin and junior forward Alyssa Diggs.
Senior Haley Krentz assisted Raymer for her eighth handshake of the year. She is tied for first in the SEC for most assists.
Missouri outshot Arkansas 10-6 in the first half, and 17-7 in the second half.
However, the Razorbacks capitalized on the fewer shots they took. With 31 minutes left in the second half, forward Ashleigh Ellenwood faked right and then pounded a shot past diving redshirt sophomore goalie McKenzie Sauerwein for the equalizer.
“I think their strategy was just to get numbers in the box and put shots on goal,” senior defender Allison Hu said. “It’s kind of frustrating because I felt like we should have won that game.”
The score remained tied at one with 5:20 left when Arkansas almost squeaked past with the game-winning goal. Sauerwein dove past a Razorback forward and left the net wide open. Hu swooped in and disrupted the play.
It was at least the second time that game that Hu had broken up a goal. But Hu’s heroics were not enough for Missouri.
Seconds later, Ellenwood popped a shot from the right side of the box over a tumbling Sauerwein for the go-ahead goal. Forward Allie Chandler assisted Ellenwood’s second goal on the evening.
“They outscrapped us for the goal,” Blitz said. “There’s really nothing more to it than that.”
The Tigers tried desperately to tie the game, but to no avail. With minutes left, Missouri pulled Sauerwein into the fray around the Arkansas box and senior midfielder Jessica Greer just missed the goal to the left.
“(The ending) was unlucky,” Greer said. “We can’t expect to win a game in the last minute like we have a couple of times. It just wasn’t our day to win.”
The Tigers were without two starters in the loss. Blitz said that freshman defender Candace Johnson had a muscle strain during the game and was doubtful for Sunday. Diggs suffered an ankle tweak before the game, according to Blitz, but she will be ready for Sunday.
Missouri is looking to bounce back against LSU at 1 p.m. on Sunday’s Senior Day.
“Our team’s mature,” Greer said. “We’re easily mentally and physically strong enough to come back from this. We’ve done it all season. We’re all amazing athletes and soccer players as well. Now it’s all about getting that rest on Saturday and bouncing back on Sunday.”
