The Missouri State men’s soccer team will open the 2008 season this weekend at the Drake Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.  The Bears are coming off an impressive overtime victory on Saturday (Aug. 23) against Oral Roberts University in their final exhibition game.

 

The Bears will open the regular season against SIU-Edwardsville on Saturday Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. in Des Moines.  The SIU-Edwardsville was 1-1 in exhibition play.  The Cougars dropped their last exhibition game to Bradley 4-1 on Aug. 23  

 

The Bears continue tournament play on Sunday, Aug. 31, against the Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers.  The Panthers were 2-0 in exhibition play this season and did not give up a goal. Milwaukee defeated Bradley 1-0, and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 3-0. 

 

The Bears are a young team that showed great character in the overtime win at ORU but head coach Jon Leamy is just ready to get the season started and see what happens.

 

“We feel pretty good” stated Head coach Jon Leamy “we’re just ready to put our guys on the field and see what happens.”

 

The Bears return 11 letter-winners and seven starters from a 2007 squad that was 6-10-4.

 

The Bears will open their home schedule on Friday (Sep. 5) against Cleveland State in the Missouri State Tournament at Plaster Field.