Aug. 28, 2014

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SPRINGFIELD - The Missouri State men's soccer team begins the 2014 season this Friday, Aug. 29, with a home match against University of The Incarnate Word at 7 p.m. The game will be the first official game played at Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium for the men's side, after defeating both Missouri S&T and Missouri Valley College in exhibitions a week ago.

This marks the second straight season that MSU and UIW will begin the year playing in Springfield. In the 2013 edition of the matchup, Missouri State went ahead just two minutes and three seconds into the season against the first-year Division I Cardinals. Then-sophomore Emmerich Hoegg swung in a corner kick which curved into the back of the net without touching any of the other 21 players on the field. Hoegg's unassisted goal was the only change in the score line and the Bears earned the first of a school record-tying 11 shutouts.

Coming off of a regular-season Missouri Valley Conference championship and an NCAA Statistical Title for lowest goals against average in DI, the Bears are looking for another successful run in 2014. Missouri State returns nine players who started 11 or more games last season and 15 of 17 goals were scored by returning players. Anchored by a strong senior class of nine, this Bears team is looking to come out of the games strong.

Friday's game will be streamed live through on Bears All-Access and available for viewing through MissouriStateBears.com at the link above. Gates will be open an hour beforehand, with Bryan Copeland performing a live electric guitar national anthem just prior to the non-conference contest.