SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State women's soccer team (5-8-3, 1-3-1 MVC) will host the Evansville Purple Aces (4-11-1, 3-2 MVC) in the regular season-finale on Thursday (Oct. 27). The club's seven seniors will be recognized for their contributions to the MSU women's program prior to the match.
Match Information:
Missouri State Bears vs. Evansville, 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27
Location: Springfield, Mo.
Site: Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium
Live Stats | The Valley On ESPN3
Series History
Evansville leads the all-time series over Missouri State, 14-8-7. The Bears are 0-2-3 over the last five meetings between the two clubs, collecting their most recent victory in 2010, when MSU topped the Purple Aces, 1-0, in Springfield. Last season, Evansville took the match, 1-0, over the Bears on its home turf with the game-winning goal for the Purple Aces coming in the 22
nd minute. It will be the second-consecutive season that the two programs will face each other in the regular-season finale.
Quick Kicks
- A win on Thursday over the Evansville Purple Aces would automatically put the Bears into the MVC tournament for the fourth time in five seasons, with seeding to be determined. The Bears can also make the tournament with a draw and a Drake loss to Loyola. Missouri State is out of the tournament with a loss to Evansville.
- The Bears have made it to the first round of the tournament, before falling in the semifinals, in two of the team's last four appearances.
- Seven seniors – Molly Brewer, Alaina Derse, Laura Ketzer, Millie Kingsbury, Lauren Shadel, Ashley Tallerine and Sidni Trotter – will be recognized for their contributions to the women's soccer program prior to Thursday's match. This group has combined for 18 goals, 17 assists and 181 shots in their careers.
- Missouri State head coach, Rob Brewer, is one win away from hitting 250 career victories. Brewer has been the only coach in the 21-year history of the women's soccer program.
- Despite allowing three goals in the Bears' loss to Drake on Saturday, MSU goalkeeper, Evan Stamp, has allowed just 21 goals on the season, the third-fewest in the MVC. The junior has a goals against average of 1.32 and is second in the league in saves with 86 on the year.
- All but one freshman, that has seen the pitch for Missouri State this year, has tallied at least one shot. Ashley Coonfield has netted a team-leading four goals, while Mayleigh Oder scored her first collegiate goal in MSU's 3-1 loss at Drake. Three of the seven newcomers have contributed an assist this season.
Scouting the Opponent
Evansville enters Thursday's action looking to secure the No. 2 seed in next week's MVC Championship. The Purple Aces bring an overall record of 4-11-1, including a 3-2 mark in MVC play, into the match. Evansville won its lone non-conference match at Miami (2-0) at the beginning of the season. The team's three league victories came at Drake (1-0) and against UNI (3-1) and Indiana State (2-1) at home.
Follow the Bears
For more information on the Missouri State women's soccer team, visit Facebook (Missouri State Women's Soccer Team), Twitter (MSUBearsWSoccer) or MissouriStateBears.com.
#MSUBears