The Missouri State men's soccer team (10-3-2, 5-1-1) is ranked 25th in the country in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings.  The Bears have won five straight matches, including a road win at then-No. 19 Drake on October 17 and sit atop the Missouri Valley Conference standings. 

Missouri State was last ranked in 2005 when it was in the top-25 for eight straight weeks, vaulting as high as No. 9.  The Bears' highest national ranking came in the final NSCAA poll in 1999 when Missouri State was ranked fourth after a 17-0-3 regular season.

This season, the Bears are led by goalkeeper Alex Riggs, who has accumulated seven shutouts and has a 0.65 goals against average.  Riggs has been named MVC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season (Sept. 21 and Oct. 12).

Johannes Demarzi and Paul Paradise lead the Bears on offense.  Demarzi has tallied nine assists, tied for most in the conference, and has been named MVC Offensive Player of the Week twice (Sept. 21 and Oct. 19).  Paradise leads the team with five goals and was named MVC Offensive Player of the Week and to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week this week after scoring two goals against Bradley on Saturday.

The Bears return to action on Sunday at Plaster Field with a 1:00 p.m. tilt against conference foe Drake.  Sunday's match will be Senior Day for the men's soccer team.