COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri Soccer (1-0) began its 2022 campaign on the right side of the win column with a 1-0 victory over Southeast Missouri State Thursday, Aug. 18, at Audrey J. Walton Track-Soccer Stadium.
The Tigers continuously attacked the net and outshot SEMO 14-5 in the contest. Missouri's lone goal came from sophomore Kylie Dobbs' right foot in the 58th minute.
Alongside Dobbs' winner, a stalwart defensive effort in the second half limited the Redhawks to just one shot as redshirt freshman Bella Hollenbach kept a clean sheet in her first start with the Tigers.
TURNING POINT
After SEMO attempted to clear the ball off a corner kick into the box, junior Rachel Kutella headed the ball into a scrum of players to push the Tigers forward.Dobbs corralled the ball first, made one touch and slipped it into the bottom-right corner that proved to be the difference maker.
The Redhawks made some runs toward goal in the final 30 minutes of the match, though the backline held strong to protect the clean sheet.
The final chance SEMO had to level the match came with a breakaway run with 10 minutes remaining in the second half, but recently-named captain, Grace Pettet, ran interference and made the tackle to prevent a shot attempt.
Missouri held the ball in the attacking zone to close out the match and start the Tigers' season in winning fashion.
TOP TIGERS
Dobbs scored the first goal of her Missouri career to secure the victory for the Tigers. She played a career-high 40 minutes as a substitute. Kutella played a full 90 minutes and notched and her first assist as a Tiger.
NOTES
Seven Tigers made their collegiate debuts, as four players — Hannah Boughton, Keegan Good, Bella Hollenbach and Jessica Larson — earned a spot in Head Coach Stefanie Golan's Starting XI.
Mizzou maintains its undefeated record against the Redhawks by pushing the all-time series to 2-0-1.
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