SPRINGFIELD – A draw with Evansville (4-11-2, 3-2-1 MVC) was not enough for the Missouri State women's soccer team (5-8-4, 1-3-2 MVC) in the regular season finale on Thursday (Oct. 27). The Drake Bulldogs powered over Loyola, 3-1, for seven league points compared to MSU's five, to keep the Bears out of the MVC championship tournament for the first time since 2012.
 
"We knew we had to win or our season was going to end," commented head coach Rob Brewer. "I thought that our game plan was very successful in the first 90 minutes. We were able to shut down some pretty good Evansville forwards. Unfortunately, we were in a spot where you have to get a goal and we couldn't get the ball to go in."
 
MSU's goalkeeper, Evan Stamp, stood tall in the net for the Bears in the first half, making two saves on Evansville's five shots to keep the Purple Aces off the board.
 
On the offensive side, Mary Disidore took the first shot of the night for MSU in the fifth minute of the match, missing the mouth of the goal by less than five feet. One minute later, teammate Rachel Catrell took a similar shot and sent the ball wide right.
 
In the 25^th minute of the match, MSU's Masen Stamp was left alone on the left side of the field. Drawing a defender down to the end line, Stamp was able to get the cross off into the box to Catrell. The junior fired her second, of a team-leading three shots in the first half, into the hands of Evansville's goalkeeper, Whitney Biggs.
 
Four different Bears – Disidore, Catrell, Ashley Coonfield and Brooke Zimmerman – tallied shots in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, to Evansville's one shot. The Bears would take just one more shot in the second half, as the Purple Aces tacked on five more in the final minutes of regulation.

In the 94^th minute of the match, Evansville's Montana Portenier had a breakaway look and a one-on-one situation with Stamp. The keeper came out, as Portenier popped the ball up and over the crossbar, sending the match into a second overtime.
 
The Bears maintained possession for a majority of the second overtime, holding the 3-1 shot advantage after the final 10 minutes of the match. MSU set up three corner kicks in the last three minutes, but were unable to get the ball past Evansville's defense.
 
"We played just as well as our opponent and we are crushed right now," said Brewer. "The heart, leadership and determination of these seniors was excellent this season. I could not have asked for a better group. I am excited and really looking forward to next season."