Late-game heroics result in a tie for Missouri against Kentucky

Story by Chase Gemes

October 26, 2022

Missouri soccer notched its third tie of the season against Kentucky Thursday night, 1-1.

Missouri hosted the Wildcats on its homecoming and pink out game, with loud fans coming out in large numbers. The game kicked off with the Tigers playing at a fast pace, with freshman forward Jessica Larson recording a shot on-goal in the first four minutes. Missouri also had a corner kick early in the first half that resulted in three shot attempts, but none were successful against Kentucky redshirt freshman goalkeeper Tallulah Miller.

Kentucky scored the game’s first goal toward the end of the first half after a foul against Missouri redshirt junior defender Megan Oduyoye resulted in a penalty kick for the Wildcats. Kentucky junior midfielder Úlfa Úlfarsdóttir tallied the goal on the attempt, which marked her sixth goal of the season. Both teams came out of the first half with six shots each, and this trend continued into the second half.

Even though the offense started out the half aggressively again, Missouri passed up several high-quality shot opportunities, opting to pass to teammates instead, hampering its ability to score. There were also fast break sequences where the Tigers had strong chances to score but were unable to finish.

Story continues below advertisement

With eight minutes remaining in the first half and Missouri running out of time, junior defender Rachel Kutella received the ball in the backfield and launched the ball high into the air where freshman forward Kylee Simmons awaited. Simmons split two Kentucky defenders with a precisely placed ball off her own head that gave sophomore forward Kylie Dobbs an easy goal.

Missouri kept its foot on the gas for the rest of the game, almost stunning Kentucky with a shot from junior defender Grace Pettet in the 88th minute. The game ended with a 1-1 tie in the final home game of the season for the Tigers. Missouri’s final away stretch before the SEC Tournament began with Texas A&M Sunday and ends with No. 21 South Carolina on Thursday.