Coming into last night’s game at Walton Stadium, the 17th-ranked Colorado soccer team hadn’t scored against the Missouri Tigers since 2005.

After a brilliant performance by the Tigers defense, the Buffaloes are still looking to end that slump.

In a game that Missouri Coach Bryan Blitz said was his team’s most complete effort of the season, the Tigers upset Colorado 1-0 on Kristin Andrighetto’s one-timer from 9 yards out less than two minutes into the game. Andrighetto’s goal, off an assist from Alysha Bonnick, tied the two players for the team lead in points with nine.

A noted second-half club, the Tigers (7-3, 2-1 Big 12) had scored only four of their 17 goals in the first period before Andrighetto’s strike.

“We haven’t done that,” Blitz said after a laugh, referring to getting a quick lead. “It’s always nice to score early, but I think the reaction after the score was the best thing about this game.”

The reaction: 19 Tigers combined to shut out one of the top offenses in the Big 12, and goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore didn’t even have to do much of the work.

“Our depth was the biggest difference for us today,” Blitz said.

The Tigers used five more players than Colorado (8-2-2, 2-1-1 Big 12) and, late in the game, it showed. If Missouri could have connected on just a few of its many late opportunities, the game could have been a blowout instead of a barnburner.

“That’s part of our plan — wear people down — and we feel like anybody that comes off the bench has the responsibility to be just as good as a starter,” Blitz said. “We have very good players that would start in a lot of places, and right now they’re coming off the bench.”

With Missouri coming into the game leading the Big 12 in shots per game and Colorado boasting the No. 22 scoring offense in the nation, Blitz called the last 15 minutes “scary.”

Still, it was the Tigers offering up most of the close calls in the second period — Bonnick alone had three shots that could’ve gone in as easily as they didn’t. The Tigers outshot the Buffaloes 23-9.

“Just unlucky, got a little excited,” Bonnick said of her near-misses. “It happens, but we still came out with the win.”

Had Dittamore gotten just a bit less of a ball in the game’s 85th minute, that win would’ve been in serious doubt. From the top of the box, Colorado’s Caroline Dannesberg drilled a shot toward the top of the near post, leaving only a lunging stop from Dittamore to keep it from sailing into the back of the net. The saved shot nearly rolled in off of her hands.

The Tigers hope the win, their first over a ranked opponent this season, comes with some carry-over.

“It’s a definite confidence booster,” Andrighetto said, “and it will hopefully keep our momentum for the rest of the season.”

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