The sophomore forward made a move and gained space, then let go an 18-yard right-footed shot that sailed into the upper corner of the net. Missouri had their first goal of the 2015 season.
A pair of unassisted goals lifted the Missouri women’s soccer team over Texas Christian University for a 2-0 win to open the season Friday night at Audrey J. Walton Stadium.
The Tigers began the season starting three seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and one freshman for their opening match. The one freshman starter was goalkeeper Kelsey Dossey, a former high school All-American from Plainfield, Indiana.
“That certainly is a lot of experience back there, and it’s good for a freshman to have that in front of her,” Mizzou assistant coach Don Trentham said.
Trujillo’s goal, the fourth of her collegiate career, came 24 minutes into the game. She said that, in those situations, she needs to work on being a little selfish, like she did Friday night in taking the long-distance shot.
“Usually, I like to dish it out and get that easy tap in,” Trujillo said. “It’s good to be confident, take those risks, because we’re a high-risk, high-reward team.”
Trentham appreciated this attitude by his forward.
“You want your attacking players to have that attitude,” Trentham said. “You want them to have a nose for the goal. As we saw tonight, that attitude led to a great finish. She set the bar high for herself for the season.”
The first half came to a close with the shots being 11-2 in favor of the Tigers, highlighted by a Mizzou corner kick in which junior midfielder Melanie Donaldson nearly scored on a header before the ball was saved on the goal line by a Horned Frog defender. Freshman midfielder Katlyn Clark got to the rebound, but one-timed her shot well over the crossbar.
Seven minutes into the second half, the Tigers struck again with a goal much like the first one.
Senior midfielder Reagan Russell cut across the center of the field and unleashed a left footed shot from just outside the box into the bottom corner of the goal, past the diving Horned Frog goalie.
“From the very beginning of the game, we applied pressure, and that set the tone,” Trentham said. “You kind of saw the second one coming. That’s credit to the team to work hard for that second goal.”
The score was the 11th career goal for Russell, and the first of her senior season.
“I literally ran all the way back from enjoyment,” Russell said of her goal. “Hopefully this sets the tone (for my season).”
The Tigers nearly capitalized multiple times in the closing minutes of the game. However, a couple of leaping saves by the TCU goalkeeper and a ball off the crossbar kept Mizzou from a third goal.
When the final whistle blew, the Tigers had claimed their first victory of the season, outshooting the Horned Frogs 24-4.
“I’ll take a 2-0 win to start the season any day,” Trentham said.
The undefeated Tigers will continue their non-conference schedule and play Southern Methodist University on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Audrey J. Walton Stadium. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on SEC Network Plus.
“When [the clock] hits 12 it’s a new day and we’ve got to prepare mentally for SMU,” Russell said. “We’re not going to treat any opponent like they’re easy. It’s always 100-percent.”
