Tigers cannot hold off Wildcats, falling 2-1 in SEC home opener
Mizzou could not come back from early deficit
Missouri soccer faced the Kentucky Wildcats in their SEC home opener on Friday. Kentucky entered the match with 31 goals on the season, ranking third in the SEC. Missouri held the Wildcats' attack for long periods but ultimately fell 2-1 at Walton Stadium. Kentucky scored on the first shot of the game when Nadia Ramadan scored from a free kick set up by Michelle Moskau in the 11th minute.
The two teams were tied at five fouls each after 45 minutes. Missouri struggled to create chances in the opening half, with their first shot on target coming in the 58th minute from freshman Rylie Morse. The Tigers took four shots each in both halves, with two of those shots on target. Despite the pressure, Missouri couldn't equalize.
Kentucky freshman Kyla Dawn scored the equalizer in the 75th minute after an errant pass from Kentucky keeper Megan Holland. Missouri coach Golan acknowledged that the Wildcats capitalized on two mistakes by Missouri. Freshman Lana Adams came off the bench and played 65 minutes, contributing two of Missouri's first-half shots. Senior Rylie Morse, the Tigers' joint leading scorer, scored her first SEC goal with a set piece in the 85th minute.
Missouri appealed for a handball in the closing moments but was denied. Coach Golan emphasized Morse's technical skill and confidence in handling set pieces. The Tigers finished with 15 fouls and outshot Kentucky 8-5. With the loss, Missouri is 0-2 in SEC play, and they aim to regroup when Auburn visits Columbia on September 24.
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