Something didn’t seem right as the Missouri soccer (3-4-1) lineup was read prior to the Tigers’ SEC season debut against Kentucky (4-4).
As the public address announcer read No. 4 Bella Alessi’s name and transitioned to No. 8 Cassidy Nurnberger, it was clear someone was missing from the starting 11.
That person was junior defender Anna Frick, who, until Thursday night’s match, had played all 674 minutes of Missouri’s overtime-stretched season.
Frick didn’t even suit up for the game, instead emerging from the locker room alongside injured Tigers Zoe Cross, who tore her ACL against Texas Christian University on Sept. 2, and junior Grace Kitts.
“[Frick] had a little tweak to her knee, nothing big,” coach Bryan Blitz said after the game. “If we really had to, we probably could’ve played her today, but we always try to take the conservative route and think long term. She’ll be back.”
Frick, who’s been an integral part of the Missouri defense since her freshman season, missed two games last year with an injury. Prior to the conclusion of Thursday night’s game, it was unclear exactly what Frick’s condition was, as she had no apparent injury coming out of the Sept. 9 win against Gonzaga.
As the game kicked off, sophomore Momola Adesanmi was on the field at right back for the Tigers playing Frick’s position, accompanied by senior Rachel Hise and junior Peyton Joseph in the center and freshman Ariela Beharry on the left.
Joseph, the other half of the Tigers’ top defensive duo, exited in the 89th minute after going down just outside the Missouri box. Though a brief period, it was the first minute the Missouri defense has seen without either Joseph or Frick.
Despite Frick’s absence, the Tigers still had a strong defensive showing against their first SEC opponent of the season, allowing the Wildcats 13 shots. Kentucky has recorded 10 goals this season in eight games on 96 shots.
“The team defense was good,” Blitz said. “Kentucky had some scary fast players. I think Kelsey Dossey was solid; they’ve been solid all year.”
Missouri tallied its third win of the season and second at home 1-0 after a penalty kick by Nurnberger in the 51st minute of the game. The goal was the first in the sophomore’s career and just the Tigers’ seventh of the season.
Missouri finishes their three game home stand this Sunday at 1 p.m. against Portland State before heading back on the road again for its second SEC contest against Georgia.
_Edited by Bennett Durando | bdurando@themaneater.com_
