Aug. 31, 2011
SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri State men's soccer team (0-1-0, 0-0-0 MVC) is looking for its first win after dropping a 2-1 decision to the Belmont Bruins on Saturday at Plaster Field. The Bears gave up the game-winning goal with just 17 seconds remaining.
Missouri State will wrap up a five-game homestand that included three exhibition contests with Tulsa (0-1-0, 0-0-0 C-USA) for the 38th match of the series on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Plaster Field. The Bears will be on the road for five games before returning to Plaster Field to play Oral Roberts on Sept. 27.
Tulsa, which lost its home opener against Missouri Valley Conference's SIU Edwardsville, 3-1, leads the all-time series with MSU 25-11-1. Dating back to 2000, the Bears are 4-5-1 versus the Golden Hurricane, but haven't won at home against the former MVC opponent since 2001.
Last season the Bears looked to invade Tulsa and upset the No. 2 ranked team in the country, but fell short in the closing minutes of the second overtime. The Bears' defense took the match into the 107th minute at one apiece, before giving up the game winner to Tulsa's Austin Neil.
Live stats and video for Thursday's match can be found on MissouriStateBears.com.
Missouri State next test will be on the road when it travels to Memphis on Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.
Notes:
-Seven newcomers saw action in the Bears' first regular season matchup including freshmen James Fawke, Parker Maher, Ricky Hoegg, Hayden Sander and Brandon Besong, and transfers Ryan Moses and Danny Frid. Fawke and Maher both logged their first career starts as true freshmen.
- Sophomore Jared Gain netted his first career goal for Missouri State in the Bears' home opener Saturday against Belmont.
-This will be the first match in four outings that Tulsa hasn't been ranked when facing the Bears. The Golden Hurricane were No. 2 in 2010, No. 7 in 2008 and No. 23 in 2007 when taking on Missouri State.
