The No. 10 University of Missouri soccer team ended its season in a penalty kick shootout to the Illinois Fighting Illini 4-3 after a 1-1 game after two overtimes in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon at Walton Stadium. The Tigers ended their year with a record-breaking 16-5-2 record while the Illini improve to 12-8-2 on the year.

Freshman Kelsey Blincow, sophomore Alysha Bonnick and junior Bree Thornton all converted their penalty kicks against Illinois goalkeeper Alexandra Kapicka. The Illini made their fifth of four attempts and Kapicka made a save on senior Mallory Forst’s shot to send Illinois to the sweet sixteen.

Illinois dominated early play in the second half and the Illini went up 1-0 in the 56th minute when Jackie Santacaterina flicked a ball up to Chichi Nweke. The forward fired a 14-yard shot past Dittamore and into the lower far post.

Missouri responded in the 74th minute when junior Michelle Collins played a ball up to sophomore Alysha Bonnick, who sent a pass to a wide open Mallory Stipetich. The freshman one-timed a 15-yard shot to the left of Kapicka and into the net for a 1-1 game. The goal was the fourth of season for Stipetich and the seventh and fourth assists of the year for Collins and Bonnick.

The Tigers almost took the lead in the 87th minute when junior Bree Thornton had a shot saved and sophomore Krista Kruse shot the rebound over the crossbar against an empty net. One minute later, Bonnick ran toward goal from the right side of the box and unleashed a shot that sailed just wide of the far post.

The 2008 season was a year of records for the Tigers. The squad set new marks in wins (16), home wins (10), fewest loses (five), shutout (12), fewest goals allowed (19), goals against average (0.80), shots (515), shots on goal (234) and corner kicks (161). Missouri is currently in the midst of a 20-game streak without being shutout, also a record.

Story courtesy of mutigers.com