University of Missouri
Youngstown State
Mizzou Soccer Welcomes Youngstown State on Wednesday
8/19/2025 4:00:00 PM | Soccer
The Tigers take a Horizon League opponent for the third time in program history.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri soccer continues its 2025 season with its game against Youngstown State on Wednesday, August 20, at 7 p.m. CT at Audrey J. Walton Stadium. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
-This marks just the third time the Tigers have faced off against a Horizon League opponent, previously falling to Milwaukee in the previous two contests.
-YSU is taking on a Southeastern Conference opponent for the second time, previously falling 3-0 to Kentucky on September 1, 2019.
TAKING THE PITCH
-Missouri enters its 30th season of competition in 2025.
-Missouri will play host to nine games in 2025, including five Southeastern Conference matches. Five of the team's nine home games will come in September.
-Following the team's game against Youngstown State, MU will take on its next three opponents - Saint Louis, Memphis and Missouri State - on the road. This is the first time the program has played in three consecutive non-conference road games since the 2018 campaign, where it competed at Iowa, Iowa State and Colorado to open the year.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-The Penguins finished 2024 with a 5-11-2 record, including a 3-7 mark in Horizon League play.
-Youngstown State returns 18 student-athletes and brings in 11 newcomers to the 2025 team, who is under the direction of first year head coach Rich Wall.
-YSU comes to Columbia, Missouri, for its third road match of the season, all of which have come against power conference competition. Youngstown State previously lost to Indiana, 6-1, and No. 25 Texas Tech, 4-1, to start the year.
LAST TIME OUT
-Missouri opened the 2025 season with a 1-1 draw against South Dakota State on Thursday, August 14, at Walton Stadium. It marks the third draw in season openers in program history.
-The Tigers scored their first goal of the season in the 41st minute after a Landis Canada corner kick went across the post and was bobbled around before being hauled in by Emily Derucki, who found Ava Vetter and scored her first career goal from point-blank range on the right side.
-Vetter's goal was the first time a Mizzou player recorded their first career goal in a season opener since Olivia Chianelli did so in her first game as a Tiger against SEMO on August 17, 2023.
-Kate Phillips tallied four saves, including key stops in the 53rd and 70th minutes, before the Jackrabbits equalized in the 78th.
-Goalkeeper Phillips' four saves marks the most by a goalie in season opener since August 17, 2018, where Mizzou goalkeeper Mercedes Sapp posted seven in a double overtime tie against Iowa.
OPENING EXHIBITION
-Missouri unofficially began the 2025 season after finishing in a 1-1 draw against Kansas State in the team's exhibition on August 6.
-Mizzou's lone goal of the contest came in the 20th minute by Emily Derucki. The sophomore forward recorded four shots with two on target in the exhibition.
-The Tigers led the Wildcats in shots (11-8), saves (4-3), corner kicks (5-2) and possession percentage total (56-44).
ROSTER RUNDOWN
-Senior midfielder Keegan Good is the top returning scorer after netting three goals in 2024.
-The Tigers return eight individuals who contributed multiple points in a single game last season - Brianna Buels (vs. SEMO on 09/08/24), Bella Carrillo (vs. SEMO on 09/08/24), Monica Brauner (vs. SEMO on 09/08/24), Jessica Larson (vs. Ole Miss on 10/10/24), Derucki (vs. Ole Miss on 10/10/24), Landis Canada (at Miami on 08/29/24), Good and Olivia Chianelli (vs. Florida on 09/29/24).
-Junior Phillips recorded two games of seven or more saves in 2024 - against Texas A&M on September 19, 2024 (7) and versus Florida on September 29, 2024 (9).
WATCH LIST SZN
-Buels, Canada, Derucki, Good, Morgan Meador and Mia Yang were all named to the 2025 SEC Soccer Preseason Watchlist.
-Good notched her second recognition on the list while the other five Tigers are first-time honorees.
PURSUING GOOD DREAMS
-Good leads all returning Tigers with three goals in 2024 while preparing for medical school.
-Over the summer, Good played for Rochester FC in the USL W League while interning at the Mayo Clinic on Dr. Rafael Sierra's orthopedic research team.
-The rising senior split her spring between anchoring Mizzou's midfield and studying for the MCAT while taking advanced science courses.
-Good hopes to follow in her father's medical footsteps, with interests in art, science, and a potential career in plastic surgery.
SIDELINE STAFF
-Golan made two staff additions this offseason, bringing in associate head coach Renee Horton from West Georgia and Austen Parker from North Texas to coach goalkeepers.
-Horton joins Mizzou Soccer as associate head coach after serving in the same role at West Georgia, with prior stops at Georgia, USC, Xavier, Lander and South Florida.
-Horton has guided teams to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, a Big East title, and coached All-Americans and conference award winners.
-Parker joins Mizzou after one season at North Texas, with previous coaching stops at Central Oklahoma, Southwestern Christian and in Oklahoma club soccer.
-Former NAIA All-American at Mid-America Christian, Parker led his team to a 20-3-1 record and the 2019 NCCAA National Championship while setting single-season program records in wins, shutouts and goals-against average.
FACILITY FACELIFT
-The University of Missouri Department of Athletics received a generous philanthropic gift from Audrey J. Walton to fund enhancements to Mizzou's Audrey J. Walton Track and Field and Soccer Stadium, it was announced on Jan. 29, 2025.
-Walton's gift is one of the 10 largest in Mizzou Athletics history and the largest ever dedicated to support Olympic sports.
-The facility has carried Walton's name since it opened in 1996 and has served as a cornerstone for Mizzou Athletics, hosting countless events for track & field and women's soccer.
-The project includes a new natural grass soccer playing field and field subsurface improvements.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For all the latest on Mizzou soccer, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
