Oct. 7, 2014 Final Stats
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SPRINGFIELD - The Missouri State men's soccer team (6-3-2) are beginning to click on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The Bears blanked Oral Roberts (4-4-2), 2-0, in the return match on a home-and-home season series. Missouri State now holds an all-time record of 11-0-3 against the Golden Eagles in games played in Springfield.
Both teams started with some legitimate looks on goal. The first play of the game resulted in an Oral Roberts corner kick, but was promptly cleared by the Bears defense. As the game progressed, however, the chances started becoming more and more one-sided, in favor of MSU. Throughout the game the Bears outshot ORU, 8-3, and earned three more corner kicks than the visitors.
In the 37th minute, the Bears opened the scoring. Emmerich Hoegg received a pass at the left end of the top of the box from James Routledge. With comfort and poise, Hoegg shot the ball with his left foot across the goal box and into the far side of the net. His team-high fifth goal of the season would end up standing as the eventual game-winner. Hoegg is now the Missouri Valley Conference leader with three game-winning goals on the season.
"Our offense is clicking, our defense is getting shutouts, we are clicking," said Hoegg. "Opportunities are falling for us and people are putting the ball in the net."
The Bears did not settle in the second half with the lead. The attack continued, with Missouri State outshooting the Golden Eagles, 5-1, after intermission. One of the chances came when James Thomas played a quick through ball to space. Using his speed, Mikey Lightbourne burst towards the ball, collected it past the last defender, and was one-on-one with the keeper. With no defenders in front of him, Lightbourne was able to place the ball past the isolated goaltender and score the first goal of his Missouri State career.
I won the flick, and I saw J.T. had it. I just put my head down and ran. He played me a great ball and I just put it in the net," said Lightbourne. "It was great to get us a little momentum going into New Mexico, which is a big game for us."
The Bears conclude the four-game home stand with three wins, and now head on the road for two straight. On Sunday, Missouri State will face a nationally ranked (#12) New Mexico side, who was one of the last four teams remaining in last year's College Cup. Following the non-conference trip to Albuquerque, the Bears will head back on the road to play MVC-opponent Loyola in Chicago. Along with the Bears, Loyola and SIU Edwardsville are undefeated in conference play.
