Missed opportunities haunt Mizzou in first loss of season

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Soccer suffered its first loss of the 2024 season to No. 10 Memphis 2-0 on Sunday, evening its overall record after the first two games of the new campaign.

MU missed out on some key scoring chances throughout the night. At the 7-minute mark, Milena Fischer found Kylee Simmons on a free kick opportunity, but Simmons' header was deflected by Memphis goalkeeper Kaylie Bierman to keep the match scoreless.

Then, after Memphis took the lead on a goal from Ai Kitagawa early in the second half, Mizzou applied some pressure late. Fischer gave MU a chance with another free kick, finding the head of Mia Yang in the 75th minute, but the header sailed over the crossbar. Moments later, Leah Selm also narrowly missed the equalizer after sending a shot just high of the net. Maddie Eskin added a goal in the final minutes for the visiting Tigers to seal MU's fate.

Bella Hollenbach finished the game 2-for-4 in save opportunities. As a team, MU managed six shots to Memphis' eight and had three less shots on goal than the visiting Tigers, too.

Up next - Braggin' Rights are on the line in Mizzou's first road contest of the new season. Stefanie Golan's crew travels to face Illinois on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.