Mizzou soccer fell 2-0 against Illinois in the first of its four-match homestand at Audrey J. Walton Stadium on Thursday evening in Columbia.
Two quick goals for the Fighting Illini (5-0-0) proved to be the difference in the contest, despite the Tigers (2-3-1) leading in shots, 11-6, and shots on goal, 8-4.
The Tigers got their first opportunity after a throw-in put the ball in the back corner of the attacking half in position for a cross into the goal box, setting up a shot from Emily Derucki, which fired just right of the net.
In the 21st minute, Keegan Good received the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and fired a shot to the bottom right corner before it was saved by the Fighting Illini keeper, her first of two on-target attempts of the night.
Kate Phillips made her second save of the evening in the 41st minute, leading to a scoreless draw heading into the locker room.
The second half opened with a quick Illinois goal in the 46th minute to the bottom right corner. Mizzou returned to the offensive end with back-to-back shots from Bella Carrillo and Good in the 56th minute, but both were saved by the opposing goalie.
The Fighting Illini put another in the back of the net with a shot from the top of the box in the 59th minute. Derucki added two more shot attempts but was unable to break through the Illinois defense. The sophomore ended the match with four shots, two of them on goal.
UP NEXT
Missouri closes out its non-conference schedule on Sunday at 7 p.m. against Kansas City at Walton Stadium. The contest will be live streamed on SEC Network+.
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