Nov. 6, 2014
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SPRINGFIELD - The regular season comes down to one night. The Missouri State men's soccer team (7-4-4, 3-0-2) plays host to Evansville (6-9-1, 4-1-0) in a match that could feature the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference regular season champion. Entering Saturday, Missouri State has 11 conference points, one behind Evansville, and two behind Southern Illinois Edwardsville's 13.
Several different results are possible in Saturday's final conference matches to determine the final seeding and regular season champions heading into the MVC Tournament on Nov. 12-16. Missouri State can finish anywhere from first to third in the conference standings, but will secure a coveted quarterfinal bye in the Valley's postseason tournament with a win. If MSU can pair a win with an SIUE loss, then the Bears will win the regular season title outright for consecutive seasons, a feat that the program has yet to accomplish since beginning MVC play in 1991. Seeding scenarios are listed below based on the possible outcomes.
In addition to the conference implications, the Bears will look to remain unbeaten in MVC play with a home result. The Bears have recorded two Missouri Valley Conference seasons without a loss in conference play. Coach Jon Leamy's 1997 (6-0-1) and 1999 (5-0-2) teams finished conference play unbeaten, with each winning the conference title in that season. This year's Bears have an opportunity to join the list with a win or draw versus Evansville on Saturday.
The Bears will recognize the eight-member senior class on Saturday night in what will be their final regular season game on Missouri State's campus. This year's seniors include Brandon Besong, Pedro Cardenas, James Fawke, Parker Maher, Ryan Navarre, Jack Roberts, Andrew Turner, and Jack Wood. The majority of this group of seniors were members of two regular season MVC titles in 2011 and 2013.
Additional pregame festivities include a performance by the Missouri State Pride Band, a live national anthem sung by Missouri State ROTC's Jenna Klausing, and a presentation of the nation's colors by Republic Jr. ROTC. At intermission, Missouri State University President Clif Smart will serve as the final host of the popular halftime dating game.
With all three Missouri Valley Conference games beginning at 7 p.m., tournament seeding will be known at the conclusion of the matches. Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium will open to spectators an hour before kickoff, with Senior Day ceremonies beginning between 6:45-6:50 p.m.
According to the Valley's procedures, here are the possible situations:
MSU Win, SIUE Loss - MSU 1st, SIUE 2nd, Evansville 3rd
MSU Win, SIUE Tie* - SIUE 1st, MSU 1st, Evansville 3rd
MSU Win, SIUE Win - SIUE 1st, MSU 2nd, Evansville 3rd
MSU Tie, SIUE Loss^ - SIUE 1st, Evansville 1st, MSU 3rd
MSU Tie, SIUE Tie - SIUE 1st, Evansville 2nd, MSU 3rd
MSU Tie, SIUE Win - SIUE 1st, Evansville 2nd, MSU 3rd
MSU Loss, SIUE Loss - Evansville 1st, SIUE 2nd, MSU 3rd
MSU Loss, SIUE Tie - Evansville 1st, SIUE 2nd, MSU 3rd
MSU Loss, SIUE Win - SIUE 1st, Evansville 2nd, MSU 3rd
*MSU and SIUE named co-champions; conference goal differential will determine seeding
^SIUE and Evansville named co-champions; SIUE receives #1 seed based on head-to-head
