The Missouri State men's soccer team scored three first half goals en route to a 4-0 exhibition win over visiting Central Baptist College (Ark.) at Plaster Field tonight.  Heath Melugin scored once and added two assists to lead the charge for the Bears.

Missouri State got on the board in the 23rd minute when Melugin and David Buckenheimer assisted on a Jordan Hoffman goal.  Buckenheimer crossed the ball to an open Hoffman who drilled the ball into the back of the net from about 15 yards out.

Buckenheimer added his second assist of the match less than a minute later.  He shot down the left sideline and curled a ball into the box to a wide open Brandon Durk who hit the ball into the open net.

Melugin got his goal in the 38th minute with a quick header on a pass from Ben Griffiths.  Dominic Hewitt moved the ball forward to Griffiths to get an assist on the play.

The Bears would tack on a fourth goal in the 68th minute.  Melugin would get his head on the ball and tip it to Michael Lapira who was able to head the ball over the Mustangs keeper.

The Bears outshot CBC 17 to nine in the match and earned six corners to the Mustangs' four.  The Bears played three keepers in the match with Trevor Spangenberg make three of the four saves for Missouri State.

"It was good for our guys to see some different competition," stated head coach Jon Leamy.  "We are very appreciative of Central Baptist to come up here and play us on short notice.  We got to see some of our guys in different situations and this will give us things to work on moving forward."

The Bears continue exhibition play Sunday against New Mexico in a 12:00 p.m. match that will take place in Tulsa, Okla.  Exhibition play will wrap up next Friday, August 27, with a match versus Missouri S&T at 5:00 p.m. at Plaster Field.  The Bears regular season home opener is against Green Bay on September 10 at 7:30 p.m.