The Missouri State men's soccer team (4-5-2, 2-0-1) got a late penalty kick and earned a 1-1 double overtime draw with visiting Drake (6-5-2, 2-0-1) at Plaster Field Saturday night. The Bears move their unbeaten streak in regular season conference play to 10 games dating back to October 7, 2009, when the Bears and Creighton played to a 0-0 tie.
Drake jumped out the early lead in the 10th minute of play when Thomas Ostrander recorded his fifth goal of the season. His goal came on a deflection from a free kick just outside the left side of the box. The Bulldogs outshot the Bears eight to three and controlled play for most of the first half.
But Missouri State responded in the second half. The Bears tallied 11 shots in the second half and tied the match in the 89th minute. Dan Williams sent a corner kick into the box finding Eric Martin. Martin's shot hit a Drake player and was called a hand ball. The resulting penalty kick was taken by junior Gerard Barbero, who buried a shot to the lower left corner and tied the match late.
The two squads battled back and forth in the overtime frames, but neither team found the net. Both teams earned a point in the standings with the 1-1 draw.
Senior goalkeeper Alex Riggs came up huge for the Bears. He made five saves in the match, but each one was in a pivotal point in the match. His best save came in second overtime, when Drake's Michael Thaden took a free kick from about 25 yards out. He drilled a high shot at Riggs, who at the last second, punched the ball upward deflecting it off of the crossbar and preserving the tie.
Paul Paradise and Barbero took four shots each in the match to lead the Bears, who outshot Drake 14 to 13. Jordan Hoffman had three shots and Chad Johnson, who entered in the second half, recorded a shot and both were key to the Bears offense.
"We got some big saves from Alex (Riggs) tonight," said head coach Jon Leamy after the match. "We worked hard and were able to put pressure on them in the second half. It was a very hard-fought match throughout against a very good side."
The home stand will continue next Wednesday, October 20, when the Bears host Evansville in an MVC semifinal rematch. Nonconference foe Memphis and conference rival Bradley wrap up the home stand on Tuesday, October 26, and Saturday, October 30, respectively. All matches on the home stand begin at 7:00 p.m.
