Prepared for Battle: Soccer Takes on No. 7 Arkansas Thursday

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri soccer returns to action as it welcomes No. 7 Arkansas to Walton Soccer Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 28. The game will begin at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network, where Mike Watts (pxp) and Marion Crowder (ana) will have the call. 

LAST TIME OUT

• Taking on its first ranked opponent of the season, Mizzou fell short against No. 22 Georgia, at home, 2-1. 
• The Bulldogs struck first, netting a penalty kick in the 7th minute, followed by a goal scored off a rebound in the 18th minute. 
• The Tigers settled the game down, responding with a goal in the 31st minute off a free kick that was head in by Kylee Simmons and assisted by Milena Fischer. 
• Mizzou continued to battle but could not find the equalizer. Both teams had eight shots, while Georgia held the advantage in corners, 5-2. 

SIMPLY SIMMONS

• Continuing her sophomore season success, Kylee Simmons netted her ninth goal of the season against No. 22 Georgia on Sept. 24.
• The sophomore continues to lead the Southeastern Conference in points (20), points per game (2.00), goals (9) and goals per game (.90). Meanwhile, in the NCAA, her total points are tied for 16th and the other three are tied for 12th, respectively. 
• Additionally, Simmons is fourth in the country in shot accuracy (.733), having 22 shots on goal in 30 shot attempts, with nine total goals. 
• The West Chester, Ohio native needs just two more goals to enter the top 10 for goals in a season in Mizzou history and can become the first Tiger since Julissa Cisneros in 2019 to score 10+ goals in a year. 

ALL-TIME SERIES: OLE MISS

• Missouri is 3-7-0 all-time against Arkansas, dating back to the 1996 season when the two programs first played one another. 
• The Tigers are on a three-game losing skid to the Razorbacks, having not defeated them since Oct. 20, 2004. Coincidentally, the 2004 game ended in a 2-1 win for Mizzou and was the last time they had defeated Arkansas in Columbia. 
• Moreover, two of Missouri’s three wins over Arkansas have come at home in Columbia, Mo. 

SCOUTING THE REBELS

• Arkansas is led offensively by graduate student Morgan White, who has totaled 14 points this season (six goals and two assists). The Razorbacks have three players with double-digit points this season: White, Bea Franklin (13) and Anna Podojil (10). 
• Freshman goalkeeper Pheobe Carver is 2-0 to begin her career, earning the start in the last two games for Arkansas. 
• The Razorbacks are on a four-game win streak; during that span, they topped No. 9 Alabama 5-0 on Sept. 21. 

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD

• Missouri has a tough SEC schedule ahead, with four top-25 ranked teams on the horizon. 
• The Tigers welcomed No. 22 Georgia (L, 2-1) to Columbia on Sept. 24 and now No. 7 Arkansas on Sept. 28. In the month of October, Mizzou will play No. 15 South Carolina on Oct. 8 and No. 9 Alabama on Oct. 26 at Walton Stadium. 
• Last season, Missouri earned a win over No. 23 Auburn (Sept. 16) and tied with No. 21 Mississippi State (Sept. 30).

TOP TIGERS

• GOALS: Kylee Simmons (9)
• ASSISTS: FIVE PLAYERS TIED (2)
• POINTS: Kylee Simmons (20)
• SAVES: Bella Hollenbach (19)

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+. 

UP NEXT
Missouri heads back on the road to Oxford, Miss., and takes on Ole Miss on Thursday, Oct. 5. Action inside the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium will begin at 6 p.m. CT and can be streamed on SEC Network+.