Back in Action: Soccer Readies for Illinois and Missouri State

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri soccer returns home to take on Illinois for Braggin’ Rights Thursday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. The Tigers then head to St. Louis to play Missouri State Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. as part of the Mizzou to the Lou series. 
    The contest between the Fighting Illini and Tigers will be on SEC Network with Alex Perlman and Ian Carry on the call. The game against St. Louis is free admission at the World Wide Technology Park.  

LAST TIME OUT

• Mizzou is coming off a 2-2 draw with Kansas Sunday, Sept. 3.  
• The Tigers were back in double-digits, totaling 16 shots in the contest. Mizzou have only failed to reach double figures once this season (Nebraska) and has reaching double-digits in shots on goal three times (SEMO, Creighton and Omaha). 
• Sophomore Jessica Larson scored her first collegiate goal in the 74th minute to put Mizzou up 2-1, coming off an assist from classmate Kylee Simmons. 

HOLLENBACH’S BACK

• Redshirt sophomore Bella Hollenbach made her first start of the season at Kansas, after starting all 17 games in 2022 for the Tigers and earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team.
• Last season, the keeper totaled three clean sheets and earned a 1.35 goals against average with 54 total saves. 

SOPHOMORE CORE

• Missouri has nine players on its roster with at least a point this season. Of those nine players, six are sophomores. 
• Leading the way with three goals and seven points is Kylee Simmons, while Elena Zuchowski tops the team with two assists. 
• Moreover, five from the class have scored this season and three have earned assists. 

MIZZOU TO THE LOU

• Missouri and the St. Louis Sports Commission partner up to produce the Mizzou to the Lou Series, bringing multiple sporting events to the St. Louis area in 2023-24. 
• Soccer is the first game to kick off the series, playing at World Wide Technology Soccer Park against Missouri State on Sept. 10. 
• Also taking part is Football, taking on Memphis at the Dome on Sept. 23, with more events to be announced. 
• The partnership is an opportunity to bring Mizzou Athletics to fans in St. Louis and the surrounding areas. Additionally, Mizzou looks to strengthen the sports landscape in the region and grow its partnership with the St. Louis Sports Commission. 

THE SERIES: FIGHTING ILLINI

• Missouri holds an all-time 6-6-2 record against Illinois.
• The Illini have bested the Tigers in the last three consecutive meetings. 
• Mizzou last topped Illinois on Aug. 18, 2017, in a 3-1 win in Champaign. Ill. 
• Additionally, the Tigers last bested the Illini in Columbia Aug. 16, 2016 with a 3-2 overtime win. 

SCOUTING ILLINOIS

• Sophomore Lia Howard leads Illinois with five points, which includes two goals and an assist. 
• In net, goalkeeper Julia Cili has earned two wins this season in four starts and totaled 14 saves. 
• During last week’s action, Illinois defeated Louisville 2-1 and lost 1-0 to Kentucky, with both games being played in the Bluegrass State. 

THE SERIES: BEARS

• Mizzou has only played Missouri State three times, holding a 2-1 record in those games.  
• The Tigers and Bears have not met since Sept. 11, 1998, marking 25 years between contests. 
• The last two matchups between the two programs went to the Black and Gold, with Missouri having not lost to MSU since its first meeting, Sept. 19, 1996 (2-0). 

SCOUTING MO STATE

• Leading Missouri State on the field is senior Gracie English, totaling six points (three goals) through the first six games. 
• Camielle Day has started all six games for the Bears, averaging 0.67 goals against average and a .810 save percentage in 540 minutes of action. 
• In their most recent contest, Missouri State tied Oral Roberts 2-2, before topping Tulsa 3-1. 

TOP TIGERS
GOALS: Kylee Simmons (3)
ASSISTS: Elena Zuchowski (2)
POINTS: Kylee Simmons (7)
SAVES: Kate Phillips (11)

UP NEXT
Missouri says goodbye to nonconference and hello to Southeastern Conference action, kicking off SEC play on the road. The Tigers fly to Florida Friday, Sept. 15 for a 6 p.m. CT first kick. The game can will be available on SEC Network+.