Mizzou Soccer Primed for 2023 Season

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri soccer team kicks off its season this week at home against Southeast Missouri Thursday, Aug. 17. The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. CT at Walton Soccer Stadium. The broadcast will be on SEC Network+, with Nate Gatter and Simon Rose. 
    Following the contest versus SEMO, the Tigers head to Omaha, Neb., to take on Creighton Sunday, Aug. 20. The action will start at 6 p.m. CT and can be streamed on FloSports. 

2022 REVIEW
    Mizzou finished the 2022 season with a 5-8-4 overall record and was 2-5-3 in SEC contests. The Tigers earned wins over No. 23 Auburn (1-0) Sept. 16 and tied No. 21 Mississippi State (0-0) Sept. 30. 
    Individually, Milena Fischer totaled seven points with two goals and three assists on the year. Kylee Simmons led the freshmen and earned six points with two goals and two assists. 
    In net, Bella Hollenbach made all 17 starts, 54 saves and held a 1.35 goals-against average. The backline starters totaled 5,573 minutes played: Grace Pettet (1,530), Rachel Kutella (1,492), Megan Oduyoye (1,288) and Bella Carrillo (1,263). Together, the unit led the team to three clean sheets. 

LAST TIME VERSUS SEMO
    The Tigers were able to hold off SEMO to earn the 1-0 win in the last meeting between the two Aug. 18, 2022. Keeping the sheet clean, the team allowed just one shot on goal from the Redhawks. 

ALL-TIME SERIES: RED HAWKS
    Missouri holds a 2-0-1 record against SEMO all-time, with all three matchups taking place in Columbia, Mo. 

LAST TIME VERSUS CREIGHTON
    The last time Mizzou played against Creighton was during the winter 2021 season, claiming a 1-0 win in Columbia Feb. 25, 2021. Julissa Cisernos scored the lone goal for the Tigers from Jadyn Easley. In net, Isabella Alessio produced her first shutout in Black and Gold.

ALL-TIME SERIES: BLUEJAYS
    Missouri has played Creighton twice, 21 years apart. The Tigers first challenged the Bluejays Aug. 25, 2000, coming away with a 4-1 win. The two teams did not meet again until Feb. 25, 2021, with MU topping CU 1-0 at home. 

STAFF ADDITION
    There is a new face on the Mizzou bench this season, with the addition of assistant coach Taylor Culp. Culp came to Missouri from Elon, where he worked with the men’s soccer team as a goalkeeper coach in 2019 before moving to the women’s program in 2020 as an assistant coach. As an assistant, he was recruiting coordinator and led scouting/ opposition analysis for the team.
    While at Elon, Culp helped the women’s team to three consecutive winning seasons and the program’s first-ever Colonial Athletic Conference Association (CAA) Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. 

NEWCOMERS
    The Tigers have many new faces on the sidelines, bringing in 10 freshmen and three transfers. The freshmen class includes Monica Brauner, Brianna Buels, Olivia Chianelli, Ana DiMaria, Madison Hendershott, Morgan Meador, Kate Phillips, Morgan Schaefer, Shania Spriggs and Mia Yang. 
    Transferring to Mizzou, Nicole Icen (Mercer), Alycia Morin (Boston College) and Mallory McGuire (Rutgers) chose Columbia as their new home. 
    Icen came to the team with a wealth of Southern Conference experience, where she was the 2019 SoCon Player of the Year and All-SoCon First Team, as well as the 2020-21 All-SoCon Tournament Team. 

SEC NETWORK GAMES
    The Southeastern Conference announced its 2023 fall television schedule, including three nationally televised games for Mizzou soccer. The contests against Illinois (Sept. 7), Arkansas (Sept. 28) and Kentucky (Oct. 26) have been designated  for the SEC Network, while the remaining home games will be streamed on SEC Network+.

PRESEASON POLL
    Mizzou was picked to finish 11th in the Southeastern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll after being selected 13th in 2022.
    Arkansas was picked to finish first in the league, followed by Alabama and South Carolina. Additionally, the Tigers will take on four of the top five this season; Arkansas, Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia.  

Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1.    Arkansas
2.    Alabama  
3.    South Carolina
4.    Georgia
5.    Texas A&M
6.    Tennessee
7.    Vanderbilt
8.    LSU
9.    Mississippi State
10.    Auburn
11.    Missouri
12.    Kentucky
13.    Florida
14.    Ole Miss

UP NEXT
    Mizzou will have just one game next week, with Nebraska-Omaha coming to Columbia Thursday, Aug. 24. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. CT and can be streamed on SEC Network+.