KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Minnesota women's soccer team defeated the Missouri Tigers 5-0 in the Gophers' first 11v11 action of the spring season this weekend in Kansas City. The two programs have met in each of the last 4 springs with the Gophers earning their first victory of the series this Saturday.

Minnesota got things started in the 8th minute when sophomore Allie Phillips and redshirt freshman Steph Brandt combined for what turned out to be the game winner. Phillips played the ball to Brandt in a deep position. Brandt played a one touch pass back to Phillips who was on the move toward the Tiger goal. Phillips found herself in alone with Mizzou goalkeeper Jessica Gwin and calmly buried her shot in the back of the net.

In the 14th minute, the Gophers struck again when Phillips sent a pass through the Missouri back line to a streaking Nicole Baier. Baier, a redshirt sophomore out of Omaha, Neb., did her part and shot the ball past an isolated Gwin for the 2-0 score. Moments later, Brandt made the score 3-0 with a breakaway of her own on a pass from senior Jennie Clark.

Brandt scored her 2nd goal of the match in the 33rd minute when another Gopher attack deep in the Mizzou end led to a clearance attempt by a Tiger defender in front of the goal. Brandt blocked the attempt into the back of the net for a 4-0 Gopher lead.

After the intermission, Minnesota's attack wasted little time in asserting itself again. In the 47th minute, freshman Lauren Bauer played a pass in behind the Tiger defense for junior Shari Eckstrom. Eckstrom penetrated further to the endline and then passed the ball back to Baier who was open for the finish from 6 yards away. Both teams had scoring chances throughout the 2nd half, but the 5-0 score held for the final result.

The Minnesota defense held Missouri to just five shots on the day with sophomore Cat Parkhill making four saves to earn the shutout.

Minnesota outshot Missouri 19-5 (10-4 on goal) for the match while the Tigers held the advantage in corner kicks 4-2.

Minnesota now has a light week of training and then spring break. The soccer Gophers will return to normal training on Monday, March 21 and their next spring match is Sunday, April 3rd against the Wisconsin Badgers in Chippewa Falls, WI.