Unanswered Goals Cost Mizzou Hockey in Road Loss to Missouri St.
By: Joey Schneider
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – After sweeping the Kansas Jayhawks in a two-game home series last week, the Missouri Tigers received reverse treatment in Friday’s 10-1 road loss against the Missouri State Bears.
“Tonight was a game that our team played very well, regardless of the score,” said alternate captain Cory Cannon. “Our talent level was leaps and bounds better than the past against this team.”
The contest opened with a scoring drought that lasted over 16 minutes, until Alex Turin scored the opening goal for Missouri State. Richard Wescott added another goal before the end of the first, one of two he would score on the night.
Goals kept coming for the Bears in the second period, with forwards Andrew Kovavich and Marshall Gevers collecting a goal each before the game’s midpoint. With less than two minutes in the period, Cannon potted Mizzou’s only goal of the night.
“You just need one to get going, and it was me tonight,” said Cannon. “I’ve played with most of Mo. State’s players in my life and it’s always fun to get a goal against some of your best friends.”
Cannon, who missed the start of the season with a lower-body injury, admitted that he played through some unusual circumstances on Friday.
“I had a former trainer pass away and found out that my roommate has a tumor [earlier in the day],” said Cannon. “It was very hard for me to come out and play, but it meant the world to show them that I was thinking about them on the ice.”
Missouri State continued to capitalize on scoring chances in the third period with another set of five unanswered goals. All of these tallies were registered with under 12 minutes left in the game, resulting in 44 shots on goal from the Bears.
“The effort and intensity was there tonight, we just need to learn to capitalize on our opportunities,” said defenseman Max Goldner. “That’s something that [Missouri State] did more than us tonight.”
Missouri dropped to 7-10 on the season after the loss, surrendering goals to nine different players from Missouri State. The Tigers return to Mediacom Ice Park tomorrow for their series finale against the Bears at 7 p.m.