Sept. 12, 2014 Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Missouri State women's soccer team (2-3-1) tied a program best offensively despite a 3-2 setback to Central Arkansas (4-2-1) at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium on Friday night. It was the fifth-straight match in which MSU scored at least two goals tying the longest stretch in program history (1996) with multiple offensive goals scored.
"The first half we played quite well and I was pleased with the effort," said head coach Rob Brewer. "The second half was much different with the wind, but give UCA credit for hanging in there and battling when they are down 2-0."
MSU got on the board first, just 22 minutes into the match. Molly Brewer and Rachel Catrell played a little give-and-go passing game on the right side of the box. Catrell found senior Molly Huber in the box and Huber buried the ball just inside the far post. It was her team-best fourth goal of the year.
Missouri State doubled its lead in the 40th minute. Junior Lauren Fussell created a turnover near midfield. She moved forward with the ball and attempted a pass forward to the flank. Her pass was blocked by a UCA defender, but caromed right back to Fussell who drilled a 25-yard strike into the upper corner of the net.
MSU took a 2-0 lead into halftime, the sixth-consecutive match to begin the season without a first half goal against.
Early in the second half, UCA took advantage of its first real offensive pressure. Central Arkansas netted its first goal of the match in the 54th minute, snapping a 414 minute shutout streak by MSU at Allison South. Just 35 seconds later, UCA tied up the match.
The teams battled back and forth until UCA broke the tie in the 77th minute. MSU rattled off six more shots in regulation. The most dangerous opportunity for MSU came in the 87th minute when Molly Brewer hit the post, but the shot ricocheted out.
MSU will make a trip to Fayetteville on Sunday night to play Arkansas at 7:00 p.m., a match that can be seen on the SEC Network+/ESPN3. The Bears return home for three-straight matches beginning on September 19 at 7:00 p.m. against UALR.
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