**Sept. 23 at Texas Tech. (5-3, 0-0-0)**
**Last Year:** Texas Tech. won 5-2 in Lubbock, Texas.
**Opposing player to watch:** _Texas Tech. goalkeeper Victoria Esson_. The sophomore netminder is coming off Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors and has three shutouts to her credit, contributing to a respectable average of 0.91 goals against over seven games.
**What to expect:** Missouri opens up Big 12 play with a tough trip to Lubbock, where it’ll be tested by both the raucous crowd and an up-and-down Red Raiders side that’s outscored opponents 13-6 in eight games but been held to one goal or fewer in five of those matches. The Tigers must set the tempo, control possession and consistently generate opportunities to grab a big road win and start out Big 12 play on a high note.
**Sept. 25 at No. 2 Oklahoma State (11-0, 1-0-0)**
**Last Year**: OSU won 3-1 in Columbia.
**Opposing player to watch:** _OSU forward Krista Lopez and goalkeeper Rosa Medina_. The dynamic duo leads the way as senior forward Lopez, an unanimous preseason All-Big 12 selection, has a mind-boggling seven goals in just nine games, while the highly recruited Medina (#2 GK prospect in the 2011 class) has given up only two tallies and owns a suffocating average of 0.32 goals against.
**What to expect:** Far and away the most difficult match remaining on the Tigers’ schedule, Oklahoma State is one of just three undefeated teams remaining in the nation. MU must fend off the home team’s first-half attack and take advantage of their pressing scheme to wear down the Cowgirls — the only three goals Oklahoma State has given up came in the second half of action.
**Sept. 30 vs. No. 17 Texas A&M (6-4, 1-0-0)**
**Last Year:** The Aggies won 4-2 in Columbia.
**Opposing player to watch:** _TAMU forward Annie Kunz_. Utilized off the bench as a spark, the towering six-foot freshman has produced to the tune of nine goals and three assists, generating 26 shots and numerous opportunities for teammates en route to the most recent Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
**What to expect:** Anointed the preseason Big 12 favorites by the conference coaches, Texas A&M comes to Columbia for the final time before its pending departure to the Southeastern Conference. The Aggies’ wins have been impressive: they won 13-1 over Fordham and a notched a shocking 4-3 upset of then-top ranked North Carolina. TAMU has outscored opponents 39-19 thanks to balanced attack featuring nine different players with at least two goals to their credit, making it difficult for the Tigers to focus on any one threat.
**Oct. 2 vs. Texas (6-2-0, 0-0-0)**
**Last Year:** Texas won 1-0 in Columbia.
**Opposing player to watch:** _Longhorns forward Kylie Doniak_. The senior has tallied five goals and three assists in eight games. Stretching defenses with her combination of speed and skill, Doniak has a strong finishing touch.
**What to expect:** Beating up on downtrodden opponents has been a theme for Texas in the early stages of the season, padding a 19-7 scoring edge while both losses have come at the hands of strong West Coast Conference sides (San Diego and Loyola Marymount). The Longhorns may find it a challenge to keep up with Missouri’s fast-paced attack.
**Oct. 14 at Baylor (7-2-1, 0-0-0)**
**Last year:** Missouri won 2-0 in Waco.
**Opposing player to watch:** _Baylor forward Dana Larsen_. The junior leads Baylor with four goals and has plenty of experience, having started 19 games last season.
**What to expect:** Baylor has outshot its opponents 177-88 this season. That ratio grows even greater late in the game, as BU has recorded 110 shots in the second half while surrendering just 39. If the Tigers are to defeat BU for a fifth consecutive time, they’re going to have to play stout defense all 90 minutes.
**Oct. 16: At Oklahoma (5-5, 0-0-0)**
**Last year:** Missouri won 2-1 in Columbia.
**Opposing player to watch:** _Oklahoma forward Caitlin Mooney_. A transfer from Maryland, the junior was a preseason Second Team All-Big 12 selection and has lived up to the hype. Mooney leads OU with 11 total points and is second on the team with three goals.
**What to expect:** Oklahoma is 4-2 at home this season, with its other victory coming at a neutral site. The Tigers have struggled to score on the road, tallying just three goals in three road matches. The offense will have to find its stride away from Columbia if MU is to leave Norman victorious.
**Oct. 21 vs. Kansas (6-3-0, 0-0-0)**
**Last year:** Missouri won 4-1 in Columbia.
**Opposing player to watch:** _Kansas forward Ingrid Vidal_. The 5-foot, 2-inch forward from Palmira, Colombia, has been the top freshmen in the Big 12. Vidal has recorded six goals and 16 points, both of which pace the Jayhawks. What’s even more impressive is that the six goals have come on just 10 shot attempts.
**What to expect:** Emotions will be high as KU comes to Columbia for the annual Border Showdown. The Jayhawks have become road warriors this season, currently 3-0 as the away team. If Missouri plays its normally stifling defense, it should come out on top of this rivalry game yet again.
**Oct. 28: Iowa State (6-3-1, 0-0-0)**
**Last year:** Iowa State won 5-0 in Ames.
**Opposing player to watch:** _Iowa State goalkeeper Maddie Jobe_. Iowa State has employed a two-goalkeeper system so far this season, but, with the way Jobe has been playing, it appears to be a matter of time until she is tabbed the starter. The sophomore has allowed just two goals in her five starts and has recorded a phenomenal save percentage of .895. Jobe has shutout four of the five opponents she’s faced.
**What to expect:** Both teams have played stout defense all year, so this game will likely come down to which squad can take advantage and make the most of its opportunity when the opponent’s backline has a mishap – something the Tigers have struggled to do this year.
