CONWAY, Ark. – The Missouri State men's soccer team (8-7-2, 3-4-1 MVC) will be the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference, after falling to Central Arkansas (7-7-2, 4-3-1 MVC), 1-0, on Saturday (Nov. 5) in the regular-season finale.
 
Central Arkansas tested MSU's defense early, taking seven shots before the Bears could take a shot in the 21^st minute. Stuart Wilkin had an open look at UCA's goalkeeper, Marc Olson, but punched the shot high of the crossbar.
 
MSU goalkeeper, Liam Priestley, grabbed his first of three opening half saves in the sixth minute of the match after UCA's Christian Ilia fired a shot from the far side of the field. Priestley was able to deflect the ball out-of-bounds to keep Central Arkansas off the board.
 
In the 28^th minute of the match, Central Arkansas' Jordan Bates threw the ball onto the pitch from the sideline to Niklas Brodacki. Three yards out from the mouth of the goal, Brodacki netted his league-leading 13^th goal of the season to give the home team the 1-0 lead going into the locker room.
 
MSU's Ian Jones had a header blocked in the 46^th minute of the match to start the second-half offensive push for the Bears. After being out-shot 8-5 in the first half, the Bears dominated the final 45 minutes of the match, holding Central Arkansas to just three shots while taking 13 of their own.
 
In the 50^th minute of the match, UCA was called for a foul, 20-yards out, to set up the free kick for MSU. Phil Woods took the shot for the Bears and hit the crossbar, putting the ball back into play. Jake Laird fired back, but a Central Arkansas defender blocked the shot.
 
Missouri State would take nine more shots in the second half before Jake Buckle took the last shot opportunity of the match in the 89^th minute. On the far side, Buckle attempted to sneak the ball past Olson, but sent the ball just wide and out-of-bounds.
 
Missouri State will host the 2016 MVC Men's Soccer Championship, Nov. 8-13, at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium. The opening round match between No. 6-seeded Drake and the No. 7 seed Bradley will be played at 12 p.m. on Tuesday (Nov. 8). MSU will open tournament play Wednesday (Nov. 9) at 6 p.m. against No. 4-seeded Central Arkansas. It will be the third meeting between the two programs this season.