In a thrilling up and down game, the Tigers were able to overcome a tough Kansas team and improve to 3-0 in conference play.
The game started with a flurry of goals by Kansas. Mizzou was able to weather the early push by Kansas and keep the game close. At the end of the first quarter the score was 4-2 Kansas. Mizzou was able to dominate at the face-off X in the second quarter, but was unable to cash in on key offensive chances. Kansas possessed the ball for most of the second quarter and took advantage of sloppy defensive play by Mizzou. At half, Kansas had taken a commanding lead, 8-3.
During halftime, Coach Eric Chole was able to rally his team and Mizzou came out firing in the third quarter. Freshman Mike Monaghan dominated at face offs and Mizzou was able to get back into the game, scoring five goals and holding Kansas to two in the third quarter.
At the start of the fourth, Mizzou was down 10-8. The defense was able to step up on multiple key possessions and get the ball back to the offense. Mizzou scored two quick goals halfway through the fourth to tie the game at 10-10. Keeping the momentum going, Mizzou controlled the pace of the game and took its first lead of the game with 6 minutes left in the fourth. From there, they never looked back, scoring three more goals and holding Kansas to just one fourth-quarter goal.
The Tigers pulled out a very tough conference game and now sit alone as the top team in the GRLC West. With the win, the Tigers have earned themselves a spot in the GRLC tournament in Chicago, Ill. The Tigers will look to go undefeated in conference play next weekend in the last game of the regular season in Madison, Wisc.
Game stats against Kansas can be found here.
