More than six months after the final game of the season, Mizzou football returned to action at Audrey J. Walton Stadium for the first game of the spring season.
Mizzou lost 1-0 to Central Missouri after the Jennys scored in the final period, but there was more to this game than just the score.
The match was unofficial for the record, so there was no pomp or atmosphere. In the spring season, instead of him doing two 45-minute halves, he does three 30-minute sessions. However, these divisions are still coined as “half”, which seems very illogical from a linguistic point of view.
First let's talk about stadium maintenance (or lack thereof). Yes, this is just spring ball, so some changes may be made before the regular season starts, but still… when you first get to the press box, you'll see countless flies and other arthropods. I noticed that it was lying face up. These insects could not survive the harsh winter and there was no one to keep them company in the fields.
While surveying the field, I noticed a large patch of dead grass. The most egregious of them all was a small box in front of the goal that marked the spot where the goalie had been digging all offseason.
As for the on-field executions, at one point it was as rough as the field itself. Many of the crosses and through balls went off target, but the chemistry during the match was still forming for both teams. But there was effort from both teams, including a lot of physical play around the box.
Mizzou controlled much of the offense and forced Central Missouri into a ton of turnovers. After the second half, the Tigers led 5-0 in shots on goal, but the teams were still tied at zero.
The southeasterly wind was an obvious factor, hindering long passes and creating difficulties for teams heading north.
Central Missouri scored on its first shot in the third inning, breaking the tie. The goal came from Jennys' No. 2, but that player is nowhere to be found on the online roster.
With starting goaltender Vera Hollenbach sidelined, time was split between Kate Phillips and transfer Cassidy Rochon. Phillips didn't make the save, and Rochon made the only save as he allowed one goal.
The Tigers had 11 total shots on net, including key chances by players like Brianna Buhls and Leah Selm. Unfortunately for Mizzou, most of those shots were soft dribblers and ended up in the hands of Jenny goaltender Haley Martin.
“We have to dig deeper and compete more,” head coach Stephanie Golan said after the game.
Although the Tigers didn't come away with a win, they did get a first look at some of the players who could make an impact in the fall. One player who stood out on the defensive end was Morgan Meador.
Although an ankle injury prevented him from playing his freshman season, Medore played the first 40 minutes. Medore was a key piece of a backline that did not allow a shot in the first two “halves”.
“I haven’t played since last spring,” Meador said. “I’m really happy to finally be back on the field with my teammates.”
Mizzou will take two weeks off before traveling to play Saint Louis University in the Spring Cup opener on Thursday, April 4th.
