Missouri soccer goalkeeper Bella Hollenbach practices before their game against Tennessee on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at the Audrey J. Walton Soccer Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
The Tigers lose their sixth one goal game of the year in a disappointing home loss.
Missouri soccer failed to find victory for the seventh consecutive game on Thursday, falling to Tennessee 3-2 at home.
After a scoreless first half, graduate student midfielder/forward Sizzy Lawton scored the first two goals for the Lady Volunteers, giving them a 2-0 lead early in the second half. First, Lawton buried a goal after settling a ball in the goal box through several defenders, burying the ball into the top right corner in the 33rd minute. She followed up her first goal in the 46th minute, floating a shot from outside the box over the head of Missouri goalkeeper Bella Hollenbach.
Missouri scored their first goal of the game in the 55th minute via freshman forward Brianna Buels after outrunning her defender and receiving a cross by senior forward Jenna Bartels.
Tennessee pushed the lead back to two with a strong shot right in front of Hollenbach from sophomore midfielder Macaira Midgley, which was her first of the season.
Sophomore forward Kylee Simmons cut the lead back to one after driving a penalty kick right into the center of the net to close the scoring. Simmons tallied her 11th goal of the season, widening her lead over the rest of the SEC.
Missouri’s struggles stemmed from being outshot 12-7. Tennessee entered Thursday’s match averaging 17 shots per game, compared to the Tigers’ average of 11.57.
The Lady Vols upped the physicality, committing 11 fouls and one yellow card during the match. However, this allowed Tennessee to gain advantageous positions all night.
Defense continues to be a struggle for the Tigers, as they remain in last place in goals allowed in the SEC with 26.
Missouri has gone 0-6-1 in their last 7 matches and sit with an overall record of 1-6-1 in SEC conference play. Their four conference points places them dead last, while Tennessee moves up to No. 10 in the conference with nine.
Since only 10 teams make the SEC Tournament, Missouri has to win their last two games in order to have a chance to make the trip to Pensacola, FL for bracket play.
The Tigers (5-7-3, 1-6-1) will play next on the road against No. 23 Kentucky (8-2-5, 2-2-4) on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 12 p.m.
Edited by Quentin Corpuel | qcorpuel@themaneater.com
Copy Edited by Sterling Sewell | ssewell@themaneater.com