The Mizzou Tigers found a way to win against the Florida Gators in Sunday’s soccer match at Walton Field in Columbia, Missouri.
Led by stellar play from freshman Olivia Chianelli, The Tigers beat the Gators 2-0. Chianelli picked up the first goal off a corner kick from senior Milena Fischer. The ball bounced around a couple times before Chianelli was in the right place at the right time to knock it home in the fifth minute of the match.
The Tigers were not done yet, as eight minutes later, senior Leah Selm won another corner. This one also took multiple bounces before it found the feet of Chianelli again, before she was brought down in the penalty box by Gator goalkeeper Alexa Goldberg and won a penalty. 2023 All-SEC First Teamer Kylee Simmons stepped up to the spot and drilled it past the diving Goldberg to double the Tigers’ lead.
This score would hold for the full 90 minutes, as Mizzou’s defense, led by sophomore goalkeeper Kate Phillips, kept Florida off the scoresheet. Phillips secured her first solo clean sheet in this game, but that does not tell the story of how amazing she played. Besides the aforementioned Chianelli, Phillips was clearly the woman of the match for the Tigers as she saved 9 shots on target from the Gators. Phillips now has saved the past 13 shots while only allowing one goal in the past two matches.
This win sets the Tigers up for Friday night’s battle at Rocky Top as they go on the road to take on Tennessee in Knoxville.