Missouri junior forward Kylee Simmons dribbles the ball past Saint Louis graduate student defender Lyndsey Heckel on Sunday, August 25 at Walton Stadium in Columbia. Following the 2-0 loss to the Billikens, the Tigers’ record went to 1-2-1.
The Tigers missed on golden opportunities to give the Billikens a more competitive match
Missouri soccer failed to capitalize on their opportunities, falling to the No. 23 Saint Louis Billikens 2-0 on Sunday, Aug. 25. The Tigers battled against one of the top teams in the country, but failed to score on any of their 11 shots.
Saint Louis found the back of the net first off Hannah Sawyer’s left foot in the 38th minute. The Billikens followed that goal with another shot on target, but was stopped with a one-handed save from Missouri goalkeeper Bella Hollenbach right before halftime.
The redshirt junior made her first save of the game in the sixth minute. Hollenbach went on to have a busy first half, affecting many shots from the Billikens offense. She saw early action in the second half, making saves in the 47th and 48th minute. After a long dry spout from each side, Hollenbach dove to make a save in the 68th minute. She finished the match with five total saves.
Saint Louis went up 2-0 in the 82nd minute after forward Emily Gaebe buried a second chance opportunity late in the match.
Kylee Simmons’ header ricocheted off the goal post after a cross from Milena Fischer in the 19th minute. The star forward is still in search of her first goal of the season after an 11-goal campaign in the 2023 season. Simmons saw her best shot at getting her elusive first goal of the season in the 87th minute. She had a miscue and missed it wide to the left of the goal.
Missouri senior midfielder Milena Fischer signals for her teammates to starttheir runs as she takes a free kick on Sunday, August 25 at Walton Stadium in Columbia.The Tigers will go on to face Miami on Thursday, August 29 in Coral Gables, Fla.
Leah Selm continually knifed into the box to give herself and others shot attempts. She favored attacking to the right and getting the edge on defenders, but goalkeeper Emily Puricelli routinely had good position to make the stop.
This was a very even game as Missouri narrowly outshot Saint Louis, but seven of the Billiken’s ten were on goal while Missouri only managed four of 11 on goal. Each team took seven corners and the time of possession was very even, but the Billikens were able to capitalize when it mattered.
Next, the Tigers will face off against Miami in an away match on Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.
Missouri junior midfielder Keegan Good and Saint Louis freshman midfielderAshley Miller chase the ball on Sunday, August 25 at Walton Stadium in Columbia.Miller assisted Saint Louis senior forward Hannah Sawyer in scoring a goal in the firsthalf.
Edited by Dylan Heinrich | dheinrich@themaneater.com
Edited by Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz l agoodykoontz@themaneater.com