Texas A&M
Missouri
Match Day Preview: Missouri
Sep 23, 2017 | Soccer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies travel to Columbia for an ESPNU broadcast Sunday night against the Missouri Tigers. First kick at Walton Soccer Stadium is slated for 5:05 p.m.
Texas A&M hits the road on a high after their 2-1 takedown of the No. 6 Florida Gators at Ellis Field Thursday evening. The Maroon & White enter play with a 5-2-1 overall mark and 1-1-0 SEC record. The Aggies are in sixth place, one game behind first place South Carolina (2-0-0). Looking for consistency, Texas A&M has alternated shutout losses with impressive wins over ranked opponents the last four matches.
Missouri enters the match with a 5-5-1 overall record and 1-1-0 mark in SEC play. The Tigers had a three-match win streak snapped Thursday, dropping a 3-1 decision at Mississippi State. The Tigers wrapped up non-conference play with consecutive victories over San Diego State (2-1), Georgia (3-1) and Albany (3-0). Missouri opened the year with wins against Illinois (3-1) and Iowa State (2-0). They tied Oregon State (0-0) before suffering four consecutive losses, including Nebraska (3-0), USC (2-0), TCU (2-1, 2ot) and Northwestern (2-1).
The series with Missouri is the second-most played rivalry for the Aggies. The teams will battle for the 24th time to equal Texas for Texas A&M's most played rival. The Aggies are 15-5-3 all-time against Missouri. The last two meetings ended in 1-1 draws. In the 2015 season finale, Texas A&M snuffed out the Tigers' chance to earn a share of the SEC regular-season title when Danielle Rice saved a PK in overtime. The teams met every season from 1996-2013. Since both teams joined the SEC in 2012, the Aggies own a 2-0-2 edge with 2-1 victories in 2012 and 2013 in addition to the last two years. Texas A&M won the first seven matches of the series, but the series has been more closely contested since 2003 with the Aggies owning an 8-5-3 edge.
Texas A&M head coach G Guerrieri and Missouri head coach Bryan Blitz were both members of the 1984 Tulsa University soccer squad. The Golden Hurricane finished 11-7-3 that season under head coach Walter Schnoor with Guerrieri registering a school-record nine shutouts. Guerrieri would letter from 1981-84, earning All-Midwest Region in 1981 and 1982. He still holds the school career record for saves (283) and shutouts (21). Blitz lettered from 1984-86.
The ESPNU broadcast features Trey Bender, handling the play-by-play duties, and Kristine Lilly with the color analysis. The match will be available digitally on mobile devices, computers and connect-TVs for SEC Network subscribers whose cable/satellite packages allow access to ESPN3 through the WatchESPN app and SECSports.com. David Ellis (play-by-play) and Kristi Leonard (color) will handle the call on Willy 1550. Audio for the match will be streamed worldwide on 12thMan.com/Listen.
