Missouri Soccer shut down early by Alabama in a 3-0 loss

A one-two punch six minutes in, followed by a late, backbreaking own goal, defined Missouri’s 3-0 loss to Alabama Oct. 5. This loss extended the Tigers’ losing streak and scoring drought to five matches.

Alabama took the lead five minutes into the game on a swift counterattack finished by junior forward Larkin Thomason; her seventh goal of the season. This goal placed her in a tie with standout forward Gianna Paul atop the Crimson Tide’s scoring list.

Barely a minute later, Alabama junior Cameron Silva cleaned up a rebound from a Kate Phillips save, capitalizing on a goalmouth scramble to net her first goal of the season.

“We gave up two early goals,” head coach Stefanie Golan said. “When you do that, you put yourself in a hole, and we never got out.”

Missouri’s fate was sealed late when freshman midfielder Aly Bryant redirected in a devastating own goal to give the Crimson Tide a 3-0 lead with just three minutes remaining.

Despite the scoreline, Missouri was more competitive than the final tally suggests. The Tigers matched Alabama’s five shots on goal and maintained a physical edge that kept the Crimson Tide’s attack in check for much of the game.

“Our kids competed hard,” Golan said. “They did not let that slow them down with their willingness to go hard into tackles.”

Missouri’s mainstay in the backline, Mia Yang, was forced to come off after picking up an injury late in the second half. This marked the first time the junior defender was not on the field this season.

“Mia took a knock in the first half,” Golan said. “When we started the second half, she didn’t look like she was moving well, and we didn’t want to take a risk of it becoming worse than it was.”

Missouri (4-8-1, 1-5 SEC) heads back on the road next week to face No. 24 Vanderbilt in Nashville.

 

Edited by Colin Simmons l [email protected]
Copy edited by Emma Harper | [email protected]
Edited by Chase Pray | [email protected]