SPRINGFIELD – Nine home matches highlight the 2017 Missouri State University men's soccer schedule, announced by head coach Jon Leamy this week. 

The slate features 15 regular-season matches and three preseason contests. The exhibition slate includes matches against Missouri Valley College (Aug. 12), Missouri University of Science and Technology (Aug. 16) and a neutral site contest against Belmont at St. Louis Soccer Park (Aug. 20).
 
The Bears kick off the regular season on the road against Air Force on Aug. 25 before making their home debut verses Tulsa on Friday, Sept. 1 at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium. The squad will face-off against UAB in Birmingham on Sept. 4 before returning to Springfield to take on Memphis on Sept. 10. 

"We have a fantastic set of games to start off the season," Leamy said. "Going up against other conferences across the nation and facing tough teams like Tulsa, UAB and Memphis. It will also be an honor to play a very good Air Force team on their home field."
 
MSU will open Missouri Valley Conference play at Central Arkansas on Sept. 13 after the Bears finished fifth in the MVC last season and advanced to the conference championship after beating No. 1 seeded Loyola in the semifinals.

"The team is looking forward to conference season," Leamy said. "With the depth of the league and with the addition Valparaiso it is going to be an exciting season."

Shifting back to non-conference play in mid-September, MSU will take on Oral Roberts (Sept. 16) at home and UMKC (Sept. 19) on the road. The Bears then return home for two conference games against Evansville on Sept. 23 and new conference member Valparaiso on Sept. 30. 

"We have some great match ups regionally with UMKC and ORU," Leamy said. "We usually have a home and away series with ORU and it's great to have that again."

To start off the month of October, MSU will travel to ORU (Oct. 3) and then to conference rival Bradley (Oct. 7). With conference season ramping up, the Bears will take on Drake Oct. 14 at home and then Valparaiso on the road Oct. 24. 
  
The final game home game on Oct. 28 will serve as senior day and will take place during homecoming. The Bears will take on the defending MVC champion Loyola, which finished last season with a 14-4 overall record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bears close out the regular season at Drake on Nov. 4.

The MVC Men's Soccer Championship will be hosted by Bradley in Peoria, Ill. Nov. 7-12.

In his 26th season at the helm, Leamy has led Missouri State to a 244-177-56 overall record and 87-66-20 mark in MVC play in his tenure.