MU soccer team ends season of adjustments

COLUMBIA — The Missouri women's soccer team lost 4-1 to Nebraska on Wednesday in the Big 12 Tournament in San Antonio to end a season that featured several new players.

After winning the Big 12 regular season title in 2009 and the Big 12 Tournament championship in 2008, the Tigers came back in 2010 with a new look. Six true freshmen were on the roster after the Tigers lost four starters from last year’s team.

As the season progressed the Tigers learned some lessons. 

“I view it as a learning and growing experience,” sophomore Jessica Greer said by phone from San Antonio after Wednesday's game. “We have to learn that winning is hard. We have to understand every game is a grind.”

After losing their first six games, the Tigers bounced back from their bumpy start to win five of their next seven and posted a strong enough Big 12 mark to qualify for the conference tournament. After Wednesday's loss, the Tigers are 7-10-2 overall and 5-5 in the Big 12, not good enough to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

“It was definitely a building year and I think we did really well,” senior Krista Kruse said by phone.

On Wednesday, Jordan Jackson scored in the 22nd minute and Morgan Marlborough scored in the 26th minute for the No. 3 seed Cornhuskers. Kruse tallied a goal in the 33rd minute for No. 6 seed Missouri, then Jaclyn White and Stacy Bartels added two more Nebraska goals in the 38th and 52nd minutes, respectively.

Despite falling short of another conference title, Kruse said she was optimistic about what the team can accomplish in the future.

“I’m excited to keep track of these girls next season,” Kruse said.