Box Score | Season Stats
 
SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State women's soccer team (3-4-2) completed its four-game homestand with a 1-0 victory over Southeast Missouri State (6-2-1) on Sunday (Sept. 18) at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium.
 
"SEMO is a good, solid team," commented head coach Rob Brewer. "The fact that we started the season out rough, you hope that today's victory is a sign that we've come around."  
 
The Redhawks controlled possession most of the first half, holding the 7-4 shot advantage over the Bears after 45 minutes of action. Brooke Zenner took the first shot of the match for the Bears in the 7^th minute but SEMO's goalkeeper, Kindra Lierz, recorded her first save. Mary Disidore, Kassie Flynn and Mayleigh Oder also contributed to MSU's shot count in the first half.
 
MSU goalkeeper Evan Stamp tallied eight saves in the match for the second time this season. SEMO's Esmeral Gonzales led the Redhawks in shots (6), including an open look in the 56^th minute of the match. Gonzales was just two yards out from the mouth of the goal and tried to head the ball over Stamp, but the MSU keeper jumped up and made the save to keep SEMO off the board.
 
"Evan made a couple of really spectacular saves for us today," said Brewer. "She was very smart in the net and kept the ball at her feet when she could. Evan has worked very hard for us and she spent a lot of time on the bench in previous years, but she has proven that she is ready and continues to improve each game for us."
 
Momentum shifted in favor of the Bears as the second half went on. In the 67^th minute of the match, SEMO attempted to clear the ball down the field but MSU's Brooke Zimmerman stuck her foot out at the right time to regain possession for the Bears at the 30-yard line. Dribbling around three defenders, the junior got as close as she could before firing a shot that converted to her second goal of the season and giving Missouri State the 1-0 lead over SEMO. The game-winning goal by Zimmerman is the sixth of her career, making her the fourth Bear in program history to achieve the milestone.
 
Missouri State embarks on a two-game road trip next weekend, opening conference play at UNI on Friday (Sept. 23) and finishing the non-conference road schedule at Western Illinois on Sunday (Sept. 25).