COLUMBIA, Mo. – Despite holding one of the nation’s top offenses to just one goal on three shots, Mizzou soccer was unable to find the equalizer against No. 3 Vanderbilt on Friday evening, falling 1-0 at Audrey J. Walton Stadium.
The Tigers (3-8-2, 0-5-1 SEC) delivered a resilient defensive performance against undefeated Vanderbilt (12-0-1, 5-0-1 SEC), as the Commodores managed a season-low one goal. Missouri’s defense remained composed throughout the contest, holding VU without an on-target attempt in the second half.
“We were down 1-0 at the half, but I thought we came out swinging in the second half. On the front foot, pushing, believing we could find a result,” head coach Stefanie Golan said. “I don’t think we had any lulls. Every person who stepped on the field gave everything she had. I thought the team was really resilient.”
Vanderbilt struck early, finding the back of the net in the 16th minute to put the Tigers at an early disadvantage.
Missouri responded with two chances to score as senior Brianna Buels (Indianapolis, Ind.) and freshman Audrey Gilbert (Frisco, Texas) fired headers toward the net. The Vanderbilt goalkeeper turned both attempts away, denying the Tigers a chance to find even scoring despite their continued offensive pressure.
Mizzou created its own looks in the second half, recording eight shots after managing just two in the opening 45 minutes. Senior Taryn Chance (Stafford, Va.) had the best opportunity of the half for the Tigers, forcing one of four second-half saves from the Commodores keeper on a shot from the edge of the goal box in the 73rd minute, bending a right-footed attempt around defenders before being deflected wide.
MU limited the Commodores offensively, holding its opponent to six shots below its single-game average of 9.08, which stands fifth in the country. In her eighth start of the season, senior Riley Wilkerson (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) turned away a pair of attempts after conceding the lone score of the match early in the first half.
UP NEXT
Missouri hits the road for its next SEC matchup, traveling to Oxford, Miss., to face the Ole Miss Rebels on Thursday, Oct. 15. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, with the match streaming live on SEC Network+.
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