SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State men's soccer team (8-6-2, 3-3-1 MVC) will battle Central Arkansas (6-7-2, 3-3-1 MVC) in the final leg of the home-and-home series between the Bears on Saturday (Nov. 5) in the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season finale.
 
Match Information:
Missouri State Bears at Central Arkansas Bears, 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5
Location: Conway, Ark.
Site: Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex
Live Stats | Watch ($)
 
Series History
Missouri State is 8-2-1 all-time against Central Arkansas, and 4-1 over the last five meetings. In the first leg of the home-and-home, MSU's Tyler Swanner netted his first goal of the season in the 78^th minute of action. Stuart Wilkin tapped the ball behind him, as UCA's goalkeeper, Marc Olson, batted the ball away into the feet of Jake Buckle. From three yards out, Buckle tried to punch in a shot from the left side, but one of UCA's defenders made the team save on the line, sending the ball in front of Swanner. Swanner snuck the ball past Olson and into the back of the net.
 
Quick Kicks

• Beginning this season, the MVC schedule will increase to eight matches from six, as each school will play a second match against two league opponents in addition to the round-robin schedule. Missouri State will begin this rotational home-and-home series with Evansville and Central Arkansas.
• Missouri State suffered just its second loss at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium, since the facility opened in 2014, against Evansville last Saturday (Oct. 29). The Bears are now 14-2-5 all-time at Allison South Stadium.
• Going into the final week of the regular season, Missouri State is tied for fourth in the MVC standings with Central Arkansas with 10 league points behind Loyola (16), SIU Edwardsville (14) and Evansville (13). At best, the Bears could be a four seed in the upcoming tournament, with a win or draw at Central Arkansas.
• Emmerich Hoegg scored MSU's lone goal Saturday night's 2-1 loss to the Purple Aces, to give him four on the year and 17 in his career. Hoegg tallied five shots against Evansville and leads the team in the category with 32 on the year. He is one game-winning goal away from becoming the program's all-time career leader in game-winners, as he is currently tied for first with MSU legends Matt Caution and Brad Jordan, with 12.
• Despite allowing two goals on Saturday, MSU goalkeeper, Liam Priestley, ranks third among Valley keepers in goals against average (0.84) and save percentage (.731). He has only allowed 14 goals this season, while making 38 saves.

 
Scouting the Opponent
The Central Arkansas Bears enter Saturday's match with an overall record of 6-7-2 and an identical league record as Missouri State (3-3-1). After falling to MSU on Oct. 8, Central Arkansas went on to win its next three matches versus Evansville (2-0), Bradley (1-0) and Memphis (3-2). They continued conference play against SIU Edwardsville, playing to a double-overtime scoreless draw against the Cougars, before closing October with a 3-2 overtime victory at Drake.

2016 MVC Men's Soccer Championship
Missouri State will host the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Soccer Championship, Nov. 8-13, at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for adults and $25 for an all-tournament pass, and can be purchased at the main gate on game day. 
 
Follow the Bears
For more information on the Missouri State men's soccer team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or follow the Bears on Twitter (@MSUBearsMSoccer).