Late goals propel Georgia past Missouri
ATHENS, Ga. - Two goals in the second half powered the University of Georgia soccer team past Missouri on Friday night before 1,082 spectators at the Turner Soccer Complex.
A Missouri (5-7-2, 2-4-1 SEC) own goal off a blocked shot from junior forward Tori Penn and a goal from a penalty kick by graduate forward Dani Murguia gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 win.
Georgia (9-5-1, 3-3-1 SEC) outshot the Tigers by a 10-7 margin with four shots on goal to Missouri's two. Murguia and junior defender Madison Haugen led the Bulldogs in shots with two apiece. Freshman goalkeeper Jordan Brown made her first career start, finishing the 90 minutes with two saves.
"Grit. It's grit," Georgia head coach Keidane McAlpine said following the match. "It wasn't the cleanest game throughout, but they fought through it. They fought through the mistakes, and they found a way to win. We haven't won many close games as of late, and so for them to find goals late and find a way to win the game was crucial for us."
With the board blank coming out of halftime, Georgia used a corner kick to gain the advantage in the 66th minute. Graduate midfielder Abby Boyan sent a corner kick into the box, which was saved by Missouri keeper Bella Hollenbach. The shot was rebounded to Penn, who sent the ball into the legs of a Tiger defender, deflecting past the Missouri keeper for the first goal of the evening.
In the 78th minute, the Bulldogs added a security goal to increase their lead to two, necessitated by a handball in the box. Murguia took the kick and sent it past Missouri's diving keeper.
On the defensive end, the Bulldogs held the Tigers to three shots in the second period and two on goal for the entirety of the match. Georgia posted its eighth shutout of the season and the first of Brown's career.
The Bulldogs will conclude their 2022 home slate against Ole Miss on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed on SEC Network+.