After four games of the 2024-25 season, Missouri soccer is suffering growing pains, starting the year 1-3-1. 

The team won two exhibition games in early August and added a win in the first game of the season against Missouri State to make it three wins in a row. Riding high into their game against No. 10 Memphis, the Tigers lost  2-0. They went on to tie with Illinois and lose to Saint Louis. Here is what we’ve learned so far from the early season matches.  

Missouri’s offensive struggles

The Tigers only have three goals in four games this season, two of them being from senior midfielder Milena Fischer, who’s averaging 69.5 minutes per game. When she’s off the field, Missouri’s offense falters heavily. The Tigers have had plenty of scoring opportunities, but have struggled to put the ball in the net. 

As a team, Missouri has an abysmal .158 goal percentage, going 3/19 on the year so far. After four games, the team is averaging just under one goal per game. However, they have been taking their chance, with 19 shots on goal over four games. 

Some of Missouri’s biggest faults have been bad passes and errant shots. In the game against Saint Louis, the Tigers frequently passed the ball with no one to receive it, resulting in an interception. It’s still early in the season, leaving Missouri with time to work on getting the ball to open attackers in space. Fischer has been crucial to this offense’s success. 

Missouri is not afraid to play physically 

In all four games this year, Missouri has registered seven or more fouls: seven against Illinois, nine against Saint Louis, seven against Memphis and the most against Missouri State with 13.  

The Tigers have received five yellow cards this season, with three of them coming in one game against Missouri State. While physical defense is important, it hasn’t stopped them from letting up goals and other scoring opportunities. Averaging nine fouls per game along with countless amounts of slide tackles, the Tigers have shown they’re not afraid to play aggressive, even if it results in opposing goals.  

The Tigers have a star in Milena Fischer

While the offense appears to be lackluster to begin the year, the one constant has been senior midfielder Milena Fischer from Germany. She scored two of the Tigers’ three goals this year. Fischer has been efficient with her shots as well, only taking five so far and converting on two of them, resulting in a .400 goal percentage. However, only three of those shots were considered “shots on goal” because the other two were too high or wide. Fischer has been strong in her four years as a Tiger, recording nine career goals.  

Fischer has made some passes worthy of an assist, but attackers have not been able to finish the job, whether it be from a missed shot or a good save from the opposing goalie.       

Missouri traveled to Florida for a game with Miami on Thursday, Aug. 29, but ended up falling to the Hurricanes 2-1. Although they were able to score one goal against the Hurricanes, it came after they had fallen behind 2-0, indicating that Missouri’s struggles continued. Now Missouri has time to prepare for Southeast Missouri State at 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 8th.   

Copy edited by Emma Short

Copyedited by Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com