The Missouri State women's soccer team (10-5-2, 4-1-1) will face the Illinois State Redbirds (9-7-1, 3-2-1) in the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament on Friday, November 5.  Kickoff at Morrison Stadium in Omaha, Neb., is set for 3:30 p.m.  This is the 15th consecutive season that Missouri State has made the MVC Tournament.  With a win over Illinois State, the Bears will advance to the championship match to face the winner of Friday's Creighton-Evansville semifinal match.

Bears vs. MVC Tournament Teams - Missouri State went 2-0-1 this season against the three remaining MVC Tournament teams.  The Bears and Illinois State played to a 0-0 double overtime draw in Normal, Ill., on October 10.  Missouri State has shut out the Redbirds four of their last five match-ups, including the last MVC Tournament meeting in 2006.

Missouri State defeated Creighton and Evansville in the final two regular season matches.  The Bears got past Creighton, 2-1, in overtime on a Michelle Sommer header goal.  Sarah Linsin scored in the 45th minute to pull the Bears even with the Bluejays just before halftime.  

Tiffany Laughlin netted an 85th minute goal in a 1-0 shutout win over Evansville in the regular season finale.  The shutout was Jessica Teahan's fifth of the season and the eighth for the team.

The Series - Missouri State is 5-11-7 all-time against the Redbirds.  However, the Bears are unbeaten against Illinois State over the last two seasons.  The two teams tied earlier this season and Missouri State won, 1-0, in the matchup between the squads in 2009.  The Redbirds have not scored in the last 211-plus minutes against the Bears' defense.

The Bears are 6-5-5 all-time vs. the Bluejays.  Missouri State is 8-12-3 all-time against Evansville.

In the MVC Tournament - Missouri State is 11-11-4 all-time in the MVC Tournament.  The Bears have advanced to the finals three times (1999, 2000, 2001), winning the tournament in 2000.

Coach Rob Brewer - Missouri State head coach Rob Brewer (Lynchburg College, 1977) is 141-121-32 in his 15th season at the helm of the Bears.  Brewer has been the only head coach in Missouri State women's soccer history.  Before coming to Missouri State, Brewer went 68-28-2 in five seasons as the women's head coach at Elon (N.C.).  He earned his 200th win as a women's head coach on August 27, 2010 with a 3-0 win over UALR.

Live Stats - Live stats will be provided by the host school and will be available at www.missouristatebears.com. Go to the "Fan Central" link on the left side of the page and select "Live Stats."

Video - Video coverage of the Bears' semifinal match with Illinois State can be viewed on the web through Bears Live and will available for free.  Sunday's championship match can be seen on Fox Sports Midwest.  Check local listings for availability.

Quick Kicks - The Missouri State defense has allowed just 15 goals this season, the second-lowest total in team history (13, 2004).

- The second-place finish by Missouri State ties the highest conference finish in team history also achieved last season.  
 
- The Bears' defense has shut out opponents eight times this season.  Combined with the nine shutouts last season and 10 in 2008, the 27 total shutouts is the highest three season total in team history.  It is also the third-straight season of eight or more shutouts, the only time in team history.

- Missouri State scored at least one goal in each of the first seven matches of the year.  That is the longest streak to start a season since 1999 when the Bears registered at least one goal scored in each of the first 11 matches.

- Brooke Williams' five goals is the most by a freshman since Kate Blair tallied eight in 2004.

- Brooke Williams became the earliest player to score a goal in a career when she found the back of the net in just the second minute of her first match against North Texas (Aug. 22).

- Tiffany Laughlin's two goal performance against UALR on August 27 was the first multi-goal performance by a Bear since Samantha Aguilar on October 10, 2008, at UNI and first time at home since October 8, 2006, when Chelsea Anderson scored two goals against Evansville.

- Michelle Sommer's two game-winning goals this season have both come in overtime.

- Defender Sarah Linsin has a career-high two goals this season.  Both goals have come in the final minute of the first half.