COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Soccer (2-1) opened with an offensive barrage and kept the pressure throughout in a 3-1 triumph over Southern Illinois Thursday, Aug. 25, at Audrey J. Walton Soccer Stadium.
Following junior Grace Pettet’s opener, sophomore Leah Selm put home the winner with a brace from freshman Hannah Boughton in the game’s opening minutes, which proved to be all the Tigers needed to prevail in the contest.
Missouri held the advantage in every statistical category, more than doubling the Salukis’ shot total (24-11) and holding possession for 63% of the match. On the other end of the pitch, redshirt freshman Bella Hollenbach recorded five saves to bring the Tigers back to a winning record.
TURNING POINT
After the Salukis knotted up the match in the 9th minute, the Tigers wasted little time retaking the lead. Redshirt junior Kyla Johnson made a run up the right side of the field and crossed the ball into the 6-yard box. As the Southern Illinois keeper attempted to clear the ball, Selm waited in the right spot at the penalty shot marker and struck a shot off her right foot that flew into the net just 78 seconds later.
Ten more minutes of action passed before Missouri found the goal again, as a sophomore Milena Fischer placed a free kick from just inside center pitch in prime position for Boughton to head the ball in at the far post.
The Tigers never relented on the offensive end in the final 70 minutes. Johnson almost added a fourth goal to the ledger but was ruled offside. Missouri attempted 14 second-half shots and earned eight corner kicks in the final 45 minutes to keep the ball on the offensive side of the pitch.
TOP TIGERS
Playing from kickoff to the final whistle, Pettet scored her second goal in as many matches. Fischer tallied two assists on set piece goals in 52 minutes of action.
NOTES
Selm and Boughton’s goals served as the first of their respective careers.
Missouri scored three goals in a match for the first time since the Tigers’ 3-2 win at Florida on Oct. 10, 2021.
Pettet leads all Tigers with two goals on the season.
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