Brianna Buels’ brace pushes Mizzou past Murray State

The Missouri soccer team earned its first victory of the 2026 season Sunday, defeating Murray State 3-1 on the road behind a two-goal performance from senior forward Brianna Buels.

Buels opened the scoring just 15 seconds into the match — a program record for the fastest goal in Missouri soccer history, and an immediate answer to the offensive struggles that plagued the season opener against Western Kentucky. Freshman Rylie Morse controlled the ball in midfield and slipped it through to Emily Derucki, who passed up her own shot to square the ball to Buels for a tap-in from point-blank range.

Despite the fast start, the Tigers’ momentum stalled for the rest of the first half, struggling to generate consistent scoring chances. Murray State forward Aby Dalessandro capitalized, equalizing off a corner kick with a finish into the bottom corner after receiving a cross on the back post.

The teams went into the break deadlocked at 1-1, though Mizzou held a 9-6 shot advantage — Buels, Morse and freshman Petra Bandula each recorded two shots, and sophomore Alyssa Turner logged her first shot in black and gold off the bench.

The second half was a different story, with Mizzou taking firm control of the game. Five minutes in, junior midfielder Monica Brauner slipped Derucki through again, and she beat the keeper one-on-one for a routine finish. Buels completed her brace shortly after with a clinical finish from inside the six-yard box, converting a low cross driven in by Turner, who danced past the Murray State defense to set it up.

Missouri finished with a decisive 18-11 edge in total shots and a 9-3 advantage in shots on goal. Redshirt junior Riley Wilkerson made two saves in her first start of the season between the posts, while Murray State keeper Griselda Revolorio turned away six shots in a losing effort. The Tigers were whistled for five fouls to Murray State’s five, and Missouri won the corner battle 6-5 despite being called offside five times to the Racers’ one.

Wilkerson entered the position for the first time this year, taking over from Kate Phillips, who logged her seventh career shutout in the season opener.

Buels’ double means she has now matched her entire goal total from last season — just her second match back — as she steps into a more prominent role leading the line as a senior. Derucki, who led the team with four assists in 2025, opened her own tally and continued to pair with Buels as the primary creative force in the final third. Most of Missouri’s chances stemmed from long, sweeping through balls designed to exploit that pace up top, while Morse and Brauner made their presence felt as secondary offensive threats despite playing off the front line.

With the win, the Tigers move to 1-0-1 on the season. They will officially open the gates to Walton Stadium for the first time of the year Thursday against Saint Louis University at Audrey J. Walton Stadium in a Show-Me State clash.