Shae Griffith
Missouri women’s soccer players Morgan Meador, Callaway Combs, and Ava Vetter hold each other in celebration after their win over Texas on Sept. 12, 2025, at Walton Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
Missouri Soccer opened Southeastern Conference play with a 3-1 win over Texas on Sept. 12 at Audrey J. Walton Stadium.
The Tigers sealed the result in the 84th minute when senior midfielder Hailey Chambliss delivered a cross to the back post, where sophomore forward Emily Derucki dove for a header to score her first goal of the season.
Derucki has been hunting for her first goal this year, taking a team-leading 15 shots before finally finding the back of the net.
Missouri built its lead in the second half when senior forward Bella Carrillo drove a ball across the face of the goal that junior forward Brianna Buels buried in the 56th minute. The goal was Buels’ second-career SEC goal, with
her first coming against Tennessee during her freshman season.
Buels has recently shifted from a starter to a substitute role, making an immediate impact.
“When I come on, I just know that I need to do my job and that I need to score my goal,” Buels said. “That’s my role.”
Missouri’s first goal came in the 27th minute when junior midfielder Olivia Chianelli fired from outside the box. Her shot deflected off a Texas defender and into the bottom right of the net.
The bench pairing of Buels and Chambliss combined for four goal involvements: Buels with a goal and an assist, and Chambliss with two assists.
“Anytime you have the opportunity to bring somebody on and there’s a positive spark in those changes, I think that’s really good,” Head Coach Stefanie Golan said of the duo’s efforts. “We’re really happy that those two are able to provide that right now.”
Texas cut into the deficit in the 81st minute when freshman forward Ava McDonald finished a rebound. The Longhorns’ momentum lasted just three minutes before Derucki’s diving header restored Missouri’s two-goal lead.
Missouri continues SEC play at home Thursday, Sept. 18, against newly minted No.1 Tennessee, which is coming off its first loss of the season at Mississippi State.
Edited by Colin Simmons l [email protected]
Copy edited by Emma Harper | [email protected]
Edited by Alex Gribb | [email protected]