Oct. 30, 2015

Missouri State vs. UNI
Sunday, November 1 - 1:00 p.m.
Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium - Springfield, Mo.
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - For the second-straight season, the Missouri State women's soccer team (9-6-1) will play the Northern Iowa Panthers (6-8-5) in the opening round of the MVC Tournament. The Bears and Panthers will battle this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium with the winner advancing to the semifinals in Evansville, Ind., versus the host Purple Aces.

"It is a short turnaround and both teams had to travel last night," said head coach Rob Brewer. "We will have to decide what is the best way for us to play this time around based on who is available. It is about our team finding a way to rebound and put some positive play together. We are playing at home and that is a good thing."

Missouri State enters the postseason after suffering back-to-back shutout losses for the first time since early in the 2013 season. The Bears have gone undefeated this season when scoring at least one goal (9-0-1).

Senior Alix Opfer leads the team with eight goals scored. She has added three assists for a total of 19 points, the eighth-best single season in program history.

Freshman Brooke Prondzinski leads the Valley with eight assists on the year. She ranks in the top-20 in the country in assists per game (0.53). She has fired a team-high 47 shots, tied for the fifth-most in the league. Prondzinski assisted on both goals in MSU's win over UNI in September.

Last season, the Bears defeated UNI in the opening round of the MVC Tournament by a 2-0 score in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Earlier this season, MSU downed the Panthers 2-1 behind goals by Opfer and Brooke Zimmerman. The Bears are 17-2-0 all-time against UNI and have won the last two meetings in the MVC Tournament.

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