The Missouri Tigers travel to Columbia, South Carolina, to face the No. 17 South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday, Sept. 27, marking the program’s first top-25 test of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT at the South Carolina Soccer Complex’s Eugene E. Stone III Stadium, with a live broadcast on SEC Network+.
SEC Play and Recent Form
Missouri enters the matchup looking for its first conference win of the year after dropping its opening three Southeastern Conference matches by a combined five goals. The Tigers fell to Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Auburn to begin league play. In their last outing on Thursday, Sept. 24, Mizzou lost 2-0 at home to Auburn at Audrey J. Walton Stadium, with Auburn securing the win behind first-half goals in the 17th and 20th minutes. Senior goalkeeper Kate Phillips recorded a season-high eight saves against Auburn, with seven coming in the second half, while freshman Rylie Morse paced the offense with three of the team’s four first-half shots.
The Tigers carry a 3-6-1 overall record and a 0-3-0 conference mark into Sunday’s contest. Despite the recent losses, Missouri’s defense ranks among the SEC’s best, sitting second in the conference with 3.90 saves per game and third with a .780 save percentage. On the offensive end, Mizzou puts 44.8 percent of its shots on target, good for sixth in the SEC.
Scouting No. 17 South Carolina
South Carolina hosts Missouri boasting a 9-1-0 overall record and a 3-0-0 mark in SEC play. The Gamecocks enter unbeaten in conference action following a 2-0 home win over Kentucky on Sept. 24, complemented by earlier league wins over Florida (1-0) and LSU (3-1). South Carolina has outscored opponents 22-6 this season, anchored by six shutouts and a 0.60 team goals-against average.
Sophomore Ava Tutas and senior forward Sydney Middaugh lead the Gamecocks with 10 points apiece, each netting four goals. Middaugh paces the squad with three game-winning goals. In goal, senior Christina Tsaousis holds an .815 save percentage and an individual goals-against average of 0.56.
Series History and Roster Continuity
Sunday’s match marks the 14th meeting between Missouri and South Carolina in program history. The Gamecocks hold a 9-3-1 advantage in the all-time series. The teams last met on Oct. 8, 2023, playing to a 1-1 draw at Audrey J. Walton Stadium.
Mizzou returns the bulk of its 2025 roster, bringing back at least 10 starters from last season—only the fourth time in program history the team has returned double-digit starters. Previous squads to achieve this milestone all reached the NCAA Tournament. Brianna Buels, Landis Canada, and Mia Yang earned selection to the 2026 SEC Soccer Preseason Watchlist, marking consecutive nods for all three players.
Related reading