Forward, Kylee Simmons, runs to Georgia’s goal with the opposing player tailing her on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 at Walton Stadium in Columbia. MO.
After a fast start, Missouri soccer fails to make any noise with a disappointing finish
Missouri soccer was ready for a breakout season in 2023. The Tigers jumped out to a 5-1-2 record early in the year and were riding a three-game winning streak into their road matchup against Auburn.
But things began to change as Missouri started to consistently find themselves on the losing end. After suffering only one loss in their first eight games, the Tigers lost eight of their final nine matches. Missouri finished with a conference record of 1-8-1, ranking dead last in the SEC and missing the conference tournament for the third straight year.
Missouri soccer failed on several levels, leading to its nine-game winless streak to end the season and elimination from any chance at the postseason.
Defensive woes
The Tigers struggled in the defensive third all season. The team finished dead last in the SEC in goals allowed with 29. Missouri allowed at least three goals in three separate games this season, often allowing opposing offenses to exploited the weaknesses of Tigers defense.
Their back line was anchored in the middle by seniors Rachel Kutella and Grace Pettet, the latter of which played in every minute of every game this year.
Things were not as certain for the Tigers two outside defender positions. One was sophomore Bella Carrillo, who played as a forward before coming to Missouri and this was just her second season as a defender. The other side was less experienced, with the position being split between a pair of freshmen, Mia Yang and Shania Spriggs.
As a result of this youth and inexperience on the outside, opponents were able to dribble past the Tigers and gain great crossing opportunities in most matches.
Sophomore goalkeeper Bella Hollenbach did all she could, racking up an average of 3.77 saves in her 13 starts, ranking second in the SEC in saves per game.
Scoring depth
Missouri had an average scoring offense, netting 26 goals and ranking eighth in the conference. Eleven of those goals came from sophomore standout Kylee Simmons, who led the SEC in total goals. However, the rest of the team failed to score with any regularity.
Besides Simmons, no other Tigers passed the three goal mark. Forwards Brianna Buels and Jenna Bartels were tied for second with three goals apiece. With Bartels graduating, Buels will need to take another leap forward to aid the offensive third in her sophomore season.
As Missouri now has a third slot open at forward, someone will need to step into that role. One potential option is sophomore forward Jessica Larson, who scored one goal this year while playing 493 minutes.
If you ain’t first, you’re last
Throughout their winless streak, Missouri struggled to score first. In its first eight games, the Tigers found the back of the net first in five of those matchups. Compare that to their final nine games, where Missouri only scored first twice.
In the games that the Tigers scored first, they tallied a record of 4-2-1. In matches they gave up the first goal, the record turned into an unfortunate 1-7-2 total.
The majority of their opponents’ goals came early in the match, as Missouri failed to make an offensive impact, and get its defense set in time.
What’s next?
There will be plenty of adjustments needed at the end of the third year for head coach Stefanie Golan. In her three years at Missouri, Golan has amassed a record of 17-27-7, failing to make either the SEC or NCAA tournament.
The Tigers will return seven of their primary 11 starters next year, as they look to achieve their first winning year in a non-shortened season since 2016.
Edited by Chase Gemes | cgemes@themaneater.comCopy edited by Bella Zielinski and Sterling Sewell | ssewell@themaneater.com