The Missouri State women's soccer team extended its streak of MVC Tournament appearances to 14 straight after securing its highest seed ever (No. 2) with a 4-1-1 conference record and a 9-6-3 overall record in 2009.  The Bears were led by senior midfielder Samantha Aguilar's five goals and 12 points and sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Teahan's seven shutouts.

"I was pleased with how well the girls competed this season," head coach Rob Brewer reflected.  "For as young a team as we were this year, we had great results throughout the season."

Regular Season
Missouri State started the season on Aug. 21 with a four game road trip, beginning at Norman, Okla., against the University of Oklahoma.  Despite six players making their first collegiate start, the Bears held their own and battled all match, tying the Sooners with 12 shots a side.  But the Sooner offense was able convert its shots into a 3-0 win over the young Bears.

Brewer's squad turned it around in its very next match.  In the opening game of the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., on Aug. 28, Missouri State got first half goals from Rachel Weimer and Tara Bailes en route to 2-0 victory over Austin Peay.  In the match, the Bears did not give up a single shot to the Lady Govs.

Two days later, the Bears faced host Arkansas in the finale of the Razorback Invitational.  The Razorbacks got an early goal and held the Bears at bay in a 2-0 win over Missouri State.  A visit to UALR on Sept. 4 would round out the early season road trip.  Rachel Weimer's second goal of the season and fellow freshman Megan Jaskowiak's goal and assist lifted the Bears to a 3-1 win.

Missouri State returned to Plaster Field on Sept. 8 to open a four-game homestand against the Billikens of Saint Louis University.  The sides would play a physical back-and-forth match, but neither squad was able to register a goal.  After two overtime periods, the score remained deadlocked, 0-0.

The Bears hosted Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 11 and the Ladyjacks scored two first half goals to defeat the Bears, 2-0.  But the Bears would get the offense rolling when Oral Roberts visited Springfield on Sept. 13.  Jenna Dobkins, Jaskowiak, Becky Handley, Kelsey Finders and Aguilar each scored as Missouri State routed the Golden Eagles, 5-0.  Goalkeeper Jessica Teahan was tested and made all eight saves to record her third shutout of the season.

The Bears welcomed UMKC in the final match of the homestand on Sept. 16.  The Kangaroos, in their first season of play, battled the Bears all match, but Dobkins' second goal in as many games was the difference in Missouri State's 1-0 victory.

A short turnaround would see the Bears at the Kansas Invitational in Lawrence, Kan., to face to NCAA Tournament teams from 2008.  On Sept. 18, Missouri State would get seven saves from Teahan against South Dakota State and its second scoreless draw of the season.  Two days later, the Bears would face their toughest competitor of the season in No. 18 San Diego.  The Bears would keep the Toreros off the board until a goal in the 84th minute by Stephanie Ochs proved to be the difference in a 1-0 win by San Diego.  The goal snapped a 425:58 shutout streak by Teahan, the longest since Jackie Jasper's 478 minute streak in 2006 (Sept. 8-Sept. 24).  Teahan would be named MVC Defensive Player of the Week.

Missouri State would return home for one final game in September as UNI visited to open conference play.  The Bears wasted little time as Becky Handley found the back of the net just 21 seconds into the match.  That would be all the offense the Bears would need to get their first conference victory of the season.  Teahan would make two saves before leaving the game in the 8th minute with an injury.  Freshman keeper Chelsea Voet stepped in and made one save to preserve the 1-0 shutout.

The Bears traveled to Omaha, Neb., to face Creighton on Oct. 3.  The Bluejays were given penalty kicks in the 13th and 67th minute, converting both en route to a 3-0 shutout of Missouri State.

On Oct. 10, the Bears headed to Indiana to face the Purple Aces and Becky Handley would once again put the Bears up early.  Her goal in the third minute would stand until Evansville got the equalizer in the 29th minute.  In the 47th minute, Evansville would get a PK, but Teahan made a spectacular save to preserve the 1-1 tie.  The Bears would respond with goals from Claire Hulcer and Aguilar in the 53rd and 58th minute, respectively, to seal a 3-1 road victory.  Teahan would receive her second MVC Defensive Player of the Week award.

The Bears string of early goals continued as Dobkins netted her third goal of the season in the 6th minute as Drake visited Plaster Field on Oct. 18.  Aguilar would record her third goal of the season in the second half and Teahan's six saves would hold up in the 2-0 Bears' win.

Missouri State would head back to Indiana on Oct. 23 to face the Indiana State Sycamores.  ISU would get a goal at the 18 minute mark, but the Bears would battle back.  In the 44th minute, Aguilar found the back of the net to knot the score, 1-1.  The teams would continue to battle through the overtime periods, but would eventually end up with the draw.

The Bears would pay a visit to SIU Edwardsville for one final non conference road game on Oct. 25.  Aguilar buried her fourth goal in four games to put Missouri State ahead in the 15th minute.  Kelsey Finders would net her second of the season and the Bears' defense would record its eighth shutout of the season.

On Oct. 29, the Bears would return to Plaster Field to face Illinois State for a chance to secure the No. 2 seed in the MVC Tournament.  After a 30 minute lightning delay at kickoff, the teams would battle through a scoreless first half.  In the second half, Hulcer's goal in the 54th minute would put Missouri State ahead.  Her goal would stand up as Teahan recorded four saves and the Bears clinched second place, their highest conference finish ever, with the 1-0 shutout of the Redbirds.

"We had a solid year," continued Brewer.  "To come within a half game of the conference title showed how hard the team played all season.  The seniors, (Aguilar, Jessica Smits and Dobkins), showed great leadership and their solid play was key to the success of the team this year."

MVC Tournament
Missouri State headed to Omaha, Neb., on Nov. 6 for a semifinal matchup with host Creighton, trying to avenge its only conference loss of the season.  The Bears would look to advance to their fourth MVC Tournament final and first since 2001 with a victory.  

The Bears began the game with early offensive pressure on the Bluejays.  In the third minute of play, Dobkins crossed a ball to Handley, but her shot hit the outside of the post and deflected wide.  Creighton would counter as Beth Fyles put the Bluejays up with a goal in the 17th minute.  The score would remain 1-0 in favor of Creighton at the half with both sides registering four shots.

Missouri State would come out after halftime and dominate offensively.  The Bears were outshooting Creighton 11-2 in the second period when Aguilar drilled a shot off of the crossbar.  The ball caromed back past Creighton keeper Alicia Montgomery to a wide open Dobkins who buried the ball to tie the match in the 83rd minute.  

Missouri State would keep up the pressure after the tying goal.  With just over two minutes remaining in regulation, Dobkins got free behind the Creighton defense.  She was able to head the ball over Montgomery, but the ball trickled just wide of an open net.

After recording 18 shots in regulation, the Bears were unable to generate any offense in the first overtime period.  Creighton would get four shots off in overtime with the fourth finding the back of the net to end the Bears' season.  Dobkins and Aguilar would receive All-Tournament accolades.

Awards
Following their second-place conference finish, several Bears would garner league recognition.  Samantha Aguilar was named MVC Player of the Year by the league and was on the All-MVC first team.  She was also named to the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region second team and MVC Scholar-Athlete first team.

"It was a big honor for Sam to receive," said Brewer of her MVC Player of the Year award.  "She was pivotal in getting our talented young players ready to compete this season and moving forward."

Defender Jordan Reppell was named NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region third team.  She also received All-MVC and MVC Scholar-Athlete first team accolades.

Keeper Teahan was the third Bear on the All-MVC first team.  She completed the trifecta of MVC Scholar-Athlete first teamers as well.

Senior defender Jessica Smits received All-MVC second team and MVC Scholar-Athlete honorable mention honors.  She was joined on the All-MVC second team by Dobkins and Weimer.  Nia Williams was a member of the All-MVC honorable mention squad.  She also joined Hulcer, Jaskowiak and Weimer on the MVC All-Freshman team.

The Bears, as a team, also received the NSCAA Team Academic Award.  Missouri State was one of 333 women's soccer programs to have a cumulative 3.0 grade point average, the minimum to receive the honor.  The Bears' team GPA was 3.38.