Host Missouri State wrapped up play in the Comfort Inn/Diadora Tournament with a 1-1 tie with Western Illinois Saturday.
An aggressive start to the second half resulted in the Bears’ lone goal. Senior defenseman Andy Cooper’s six-yard blast in the 52nd minute gave Missouri State a 1-0 lead. A red card penalty on Cooper in the game’s 66th minute though forced the Bears to play a man down the remainder of the match. Western Illinois capitalized at the 71:17 mark on junior Jona Andrade’s freekick from 25-yards away to tie the score at 1-1.
Neither team found the net again, however, the tournament champion Leathernecks outshot Missouri State by an 18-10 margin overall.Bears senior goal keeper Lance Parker registered seven saves.
Drake finished second in the four-team tournament, defeating Central Arkansas 2-1 earlier Saturday.
Sophomore midfielder Johannes Demarzi and junior midfielder Kenny Boutsabouabane of Missouri State were selected to the All-Tournament Team. Joining the Bears were: Wetsren Illinois -- Preston Bernardi, Jona Andrade, Martin Browne, Nikola Katic; Drake -- Luke Frieberg, Luke Gorsica, Garrett Webb; Central Arkansas -- Jimmy Nummy, Matt Marlin.
Missouri State, now 2-1-1 overall, will next compete in the Tulsa Tournament. The Bears will face Oral Roberts Friday at 2 p.m. and host Tulsa Sunday at 2:35 p.m.