Alabama women’s soccer (5-5, 0-1) will play its first home conference game against the Missouri Tigers (4-4, 0-1) on Thursday, Sept. 23.

The Crimson Tide dropped its first SEC game at Ole Miss before returning home to beat Utah Valley, 3-0.

Missouri started the season 0-2 after two losses to Illinois and Nebraska by a combined score of 9-0. The Tigers then won four straight, including wins over Miami and Notre Dame. Since then, the Tigers have lost back to back against BYU and South Carolina to begin conference play.

Freshman midfielder Milena Fischer leads the Tigers with four goals and five assists over the course of eight games.

The Tigers have started two goalkeepers this season, and neither has had much success. Junior Isabella Alessio has started three games, allowing nine goals. The likely starter on Thursday is sophomore Sophia Worth, who has started five games and allowed 11 goals.

Missouri was tied 1-1 with the Gamecocks last Thursday before allowing the game winner in the 87th minute.

The Crimson Tide lost its SEC opener to Ole Miss but returned home with a dominant performance over Utah Valley. Forward Ashlynn Serepca scored twice, leading the team with five goals.

Head coach Wes Hart said he is excited for the challenge the Tigers offer.

“In order to beat Missouri, we’ve got to bring it,” Hart said. “We have to bring effort and attitude and do the things that we have been doing, plus more. We do a great job of playing soccer from box to box. We do a great job of controlling the game, but if we want to do more, we need to do a better job in the boxes.”

Alabama and Missouri last met in 2019 when the Crimson Tide won 2-1 in Columbia.

Both teams will look to secure their first win in SEC play on Thursday, Sept. 23. The game is at 7 p.m. CT on SECN+.