Next up for Stefanie Golan’s squad is a road contest against LSU and a home match against No. 25 Alabama
Mizzou soccer started the season at an impressive 4-3-1 record, but the worries of the Southeastern Conference have come to fruition as the Tigers have lost three straight to conference opponents. Now, Mizzou will embark on another tough two-game stretch, starting with a road trip to LSU on Oct. 2 and a return home for a match against No. 25 Alabama on Oct. 5. We’ll preview both opponents as the Tigers look to salvage a once-promising season and return to the SEC Tournament for the first time since 2020.
LSU Tigers
LSU (6-5-1, 1-2-1 SEC) has experienced an up-and-down season, gaining a ranked win and losing two matches on the road against unranked teams. In the 1-0 victory over No. 21 Wisconsin, forward Ava Galligan was the Tigers’ savior, scoring a winner in the 90th minute. She is tied for 2nd in the conference with four game-winning goals this season.
They are coming off their first SEC win of the season against Auburn. In the 3-1 victory, the Bayou Bengals were outshot 22-6, showcasing how well they capitalize on shot opportunities. For a Mizzou squad that hasn’t shown the ability to go shot-for-shot with opponents, they will have to win the game on the defensive end and turn limited chances inside the penalty box into goals.
Players on Golan’s scouting report are most likely forward Ida Hermannsdottir and the aforementioned Galligan. LSU’s veteran forwards have combined for 10 goals this season. Hermannsdottir leads the Bayou Bengals with 14 shots on goal and has achieved a 70% shot on goal rate. The LSU attack doesn’t rank at the top of the conference in any major statistics, but they keep themselves in games with a balance of strong defense and efficient scorers.
Mizzou has not won against the Tigers down south since 2017. It was a close affair last season from Audrey J. Walton, but Golan’s squad ultimately lost 1-0 off a goal in the 68th minute from Hermannsdottir.
Mizzou has shut down some of the best attackers in the SEC this season, but they will need to have some essence of an offense against LSU to grab an upset win.
No. 25 Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama (8-3-1, 2-2-0 SEC) looks improved coming off a second round exit in the conference tournament in 2024. Mizzou may actually be more suited to beat its ladder opponent this weekend. In three matches against ranked teams, the Crimson Tide has a 0-2-1 record.
This matchup can be analyzed deeper because both teams have seen similar opponents in SEC play thus far. In Alabama’s last two matches, they won 4-3 against Texas and lost 2-1 against Kentucky. The Tigers beat Texas 3-1 and lost to Kentucky 1-0. What the Crimson Tide lack in defense, they make up for with a high-powered offense.
Alabama leads the conference in shots, but they allow the third most shots against them. Gianna Paul has an argument for the best forward in the SEC, leading the conference in points with seven goals and five assists. In the midfield, Mizzou will have to contain Nadia Ramadan, who has five goals and four assists this season.
The problem this season for Golan’s Tigers hasn’t been stopping prolific offenses, but finishing shot opportunities has been wildly inconsistent. The holes that the Crimson Tide defense presents may give Mizzou’s young attackers a chance.
Last season, these two programs finished a 1-1 tie in Tuscaloosa. The match this season will be played in Columbia and it is a prime opportunity for the Tigers to get their first ranked win since 2022.
Things we Want to see This Weekend
Get the ball in the back of the net. Mizzou has gone scoreless in its past three matches, so regardless of the outcomes, goals are a necessity to build momentum after a few demoralizing offensive performances. Whether it’s sacrificing some defensive numbers to increase the attack, or taking more risky shot attempts, something needs to change to increase offensive output.
While the defense has been the Tigers’ strong point, in their past three matches there have been lapses in play where opposing offenses break past the defense on a through ball and score. The backline faces so much pressure in each conference matchup. To combat this, we need to see better clear outs and better ball control from the midfielders to relieve pressure off defenders.
A player to watch for Mizzou this weekend is midfielder Landis Canada. She is not having the sophomore year breakout that was expected after a promising freshman season, but she is getting the minutes to make plays happen. Someone needs to step up to get points on the board, and we like Canada making an impact after having a silent start to her season.
More people than Canada will have to step up to earn a statement win, though.
The Tigers will also have more opportunities to get exposure in these two matches, as both contests will be broadcast on SEC Network.
Category: General Sports
