Kicking Off SEC Play: Soccer Heads to Florida for Matchup with Gators

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri soccer opens conference play at the University of Florida on Friday, Sept. 15. The game against the Gators will be played at Donald R. Dizney Stadium at 6 p.m. CT. Fans can catch the action on SEC Network+, where Kyle Crooks and Matt Subbington will have the call. 

LAST TIME OUT

• Mizzou is coming off its Mizzou to the Lou game against Missouri State that ended in a 2-0 win and moved its all-time series against the Bears to 3-0-1. 
• Sophomore Kylee Simmons scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season in the 22nd minute, while freshman Brianna Buels recorded her second in the 51st minute. Simmons and Buels are the only Tigers with multiple goals thus far in the 2023 season.
• In net, redshirt sophomore Bella Hollenbach recorded her first clean sheet of the season in her third start of 2023, while recording a season-high five saves in the match. 
• The Tigers topped the Bears in shots (17-10), shots on goal (7-5) and corners (6-0).

BRAGGIN’ RIGHTS ARE BACK

• Missouri defeated Illinois at home, 2-1, on Aug. 31 to earn back Braggin’ Rights. 
• Goals from senior Jenna Bartels and sophomore Kylee Simmons in the first half propelled the Tigers to the win. 
• Having dropped a close 1-0 contest to Illinois in 2022, the win brings the all-time record against the Illini to 7-5-2 and breaks a two-match losing streak for Mizzou in the rivalry. 

NON-CON CLOSED OUT

• Missouri finished its non-conference schedule with a 4-1-2 record and were 2-0-1 at home. 
• Throughout those seven games, the Tigers outscored their opponents 15-11 and scored 2.14 goals per game. 
• Additionally, Mizzou’s shots per game more than doubled its opponent’s 16.0-6.7. 

THE HOLLENBACH BALLAST

• Earning her second SEC weekly honor of her career, redshirt sophomore Bella Hollenbach was named Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 11 by the league office. 
• Hollenbach helped the Tigers to a 2-0 week in net, totaling nine saves over two games and one clean sheet. After a penalty kick against border rival Illinois, she shut the door on the Illini, propelling the team to a 2-1 win. The keeper then posted a shutout of Missouri State in St. Louis, earning her first clean sheet of the season and fourth of her career.
• The redshirt sophomore earned SEC Freshman of the Week last season (Sept. 30, 2022) following a 0-0 draw against No. 21 Mississippi State, where she made six saves and earned her third shutout of the season. 
• Furthermore, she was not the only Hollenbach to earn the accolade this week as her brother Andrew Hollenbach was named Defensive Player of the Week in the Lone Star Conference, playing for Dallas Baptist. 

SIMMONS IS A STAR

• There is no sophomore slump for Kylee Simmons in 2023, as the second-year player leads the team with five goals and 11 points. 
• Simmons’ points and points per game (1.57) both rank fourth in the Southeastern Conference, and her goals and goals per game (0.71) are tied for fourth. 

ALL-TIME SERIES: FLORIDA

• Missouri holds an all-time record against Florida of 6-8-2. 
• The Tigers have won the last four consecutive meetings between the two conference opponents. 
• Additionally, Mizzou has a 1-5-0 record in Gainesville, Fla., and is 2-6-1 away from Columbia when taking on the Gators. 

SCOUTING THE GATORS

• Florida is led offensively by Lena Bailey and Megan Hinnenkamp, who both have three goals in 2023.
• Goalkeeper Alexa Goldberg has started all seven games for the Gators and has a .750 save percentage and .310 goals against average. 
• In its most recent game, Florida dropped a close contest to No. 5 Florida State, 1-0, in Tallahassee on Sunday, Sept. 10. 

TOP TIGERS
• GOALS: Kylee Simmons (5)
• ASSISTS: Elena Zuchowski & Bella Carrillo (2)
• POINTS: Kylee Simmons (11)
• SAVES: Kate Phillips (11)

UP NEXT

• Missouri moves on to week two of conference action, traveling to Auburn on Thursday, Sept. 21, before returning home to welcome No. 23 Georgia to Columbia on Sunday, Sept. 24. 
• The game at Auburn Soccer Complex will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT, while the contest against the Bulldogs will begin at 6 p.m. CT. Fans can follow the action for both games on SEC Network+.