COLUMBIA, Mo. – Florida closed September action with a 2-0 loss at Missouri Sunday evening at the Audrey J. Walton Soccer Stadium.
Despite outshooting the Tigers 20-7, the Gators couldn’t get the ball past MU goalkeeper Kate Phillips, who registered nine saves Sunday. The Tigers made the most of their early set play opportunities as both goals in the opening eight minutes started with corner kicks.
Sunday’s Scoring:
Missouri’s opening goal came off the first corner kick of the match. Milena Fischer sent the ball to the far post where Callaway Combs put it forward for Olivia Chianelli to touch in at the post with her left foot at 5:24.
Florida was whistled for a foul in the box off the second corner kick of the match. Kylee Simmons put in the penalty kick to give MU a 2-0 lead in the eighth minute.
The Gators did have some good opportunities to score. In the 17th minute, Lauren McCloskey sent the ball ahead to just wide of the MU box. Lena Bailey won the ball from two defenders, but hit the near post with her 10 yard shot.
UF goalkeeper Jayden Emmanuel, who played the second half, blasted the ball into the Missouri half with 20 minutes remaining. Sophie White ran it down but her shot in the box was high. In the final four minutes, Vera Blom sent the ball from the endline to the top of the box where Skye Barnes touched it forward for Bailey. She took a short shot as tumbling to the ground. The play was video reviewed but no foul was awarded.
Florida was without two Super Seniors Sunday. Delaney Tauzel is still out after she was injured in the Sept. 19 match at then No. 20 Kentucky. All-SEC first-team selection Daviana Vaka remains sidelined after she was injured early in the second half of the Sept. 22 match at then No. 6 Auburn.
With Hurricane Helene postponing Florida’s Southeastern Conference Sept. 26 home opener versus Tennessee, Gator soccer becomes the first program since 2012 to open league play with three consecutive road matches.
Coach Bohon Said:
“We experienced a costly lesson tonight- you can’t play anything short of 90 hard minutes and expect a result in the SEC. The opening eight minutes were the difference in the game. Giving up two goals off set pieces like that is inexcusable.
“We created plenty of chances tonight and either their keeper made a great save or we didn’t finish. We can’t outshoot a team 20 to 7 and lose. There’s no excuse. We will put our heads together as a staff and regroup for Friday’s home match.” – Florida Head Coach Samantha Bohon
Records:
Florida: 3-3-5, 0-2-1 SEC
Missouri: 3-6-2, 1-2-1 SEC
Series Record:
Tied at 8-8-2.
Next Up:
Florida opens SEC home action Friday when Texas, ranked No. 13 by TopDrawerSoccer, comes to the Donald R. Dizney Stadium. Texas (8-1-2, 1-1-1 SEC) played host to Texas A&M tonight at 7 p.m.
Texas
Date: Friday, Oct. 4
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Site: Donald R. Dizney Stadium<https://floridagators.com/sports/2020/4/4/donald-r-dizney-stadium.aspx> (1,500)
Stream: SEC Network +<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/11ccedda-2876-4179-b506-f96dd5bab5a1> with Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington calling the action
Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/> with Ryan Urquhart and Nevada Cullen calling the action
StatBroadcast<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5469>
Admission: Free
Promotions: Gainesville Youth teams are invited to the Diz to enjoy inflatables pre-match, games and more! The first 250 fans receive a Gator Rally Towel.
Florida (3-2-5, 0-1-1 SEC) at Missouri (2-6-2, 0-2-1 SEC)
Stadium: Audrey J. Walton Soccer Stadium (743)
Weather: 78 degrees, winds NNE at 8 mph
Goals by Period
1
2
Total
Florida
0
0
0
Missouri
2
0
2
Scoring Summary:
No.
Time
Team
Goal Scorer
Assist
1.
5:24
MU
Olivia Chianelli
Callaway Combs, Milena Fischer
2.
7:43
MU
Kylee Simmons
PK
Shots: Florida 20, Missouri 7
Saves: Florida 1 (Alexa Goldberg 1; Jayden Emmanuel 0); MU 9 (Kate Phillips)
Offsides: UF 1, MU 1
Cautions: Keegan Good-MU/yellow (88:35)
