SPRINGFIELD – After wrapping up exhibition play at Drury Wednesday evening, the Missouri State women's soccer team kicks off the 2017 season at Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium with a 7 p.m. matchup against Arkansas State on Friday, Aug. 18.
 
Two days later, the Bears will travel to Starkville, Miss., where they will take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the fifth meeting between the two programs. The match is slated for 1 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the MSU Soccer Field.
 

Missouri State vs. Arkansas State | Missouri State at Mississippi State
Dates	Friday, Aug. 18 | Sunday, Aug. 20
Location	Springfield, Mo. | Starkville, Miss.
Site	Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium | MSU Soccer Field
Friday, Aug. 18	Missouri State vs. Arkansas State - 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 20	Missouri State at Mississippi State - 1 p.m.
Follow Along	Live Stats • ESPN3 | Live Stats • SEC Network+
Missouri State	Game Notes | Women's Soccer Home Page | Twitter

 
Missouri State Quick Kicks

• The Bears return 14 letterwinners – five seniors, six juniors and seven sophomores – from the 2016 season and welcome a strong class of nine freshmen.
• With 249 career wins, head coach Rob Brewer is just one victory away from joining the 250 career-win club.
• Starting all but two matches during her three years in a Bear uniform, senior Mary Disidore was the lone Bear to represent Missouri State on the 2017 MVC women's soccer preseason all-conference team.
• Prior to the start of the 2017 season, Missouri State was selected seventh in The Valley preseason poll.
• Returning to the pitch is sophomore Ashley Coonfield, who led the 2016 squad with four goals, nine points and a .364 shot percentage.
• In the 2016 season, Missouri State's five victories took place at Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium. The Bears went on two separate two-game winning streaks, the first against Nebraska-Omaha and Central Arkansas and the second against Indiana State and Kansas State.

The Opponents
Arkansas State

• Boasting a 6-8-3 overall record in 2016, the Red Wolves return 13 letterwinner and welcome 11 newcomers.
• Junior midfielder Taylor Schneider led Arkansas State with four goals and 10 points during the 2016 season.
• Junior Kelsey Ponder returns to the pitch after racking up 112 saves in 1,563 minutes last season.
• Brian Dooley enters his third season at the helm for Arkansas State.

 
Mississippi State

• Mississippi State finished the 2016 season with a 6-12 overall record and 1-10 mark in SEC play.
• Fifteen letterwinners return to the 2017 Mississippi State roster, while the squad welcomes a whopping 12 newcomers.
• Eleven Bulldogs, led by then-junior Mallory Eubanks (3 goals), netted goals in the 2016 season.
• Mississippi State is under new direction as Tom Anagnost enters his first season as head coach of the program.

 
Series History
Arkansas State
The Bears command a 3-1-0 all-time series lead over the Red Wolves, falling just once to Arkansas State in an away match on Sept. 3, 2013. The last meeting between the two teams took place on Sept. 7, 2014, where the Bears blanked the Red Wolves, 3-0 in Springfield, Mo. Entering Friday's match, Missouri State is a perfect 2-0 at home against Arkansas State.
 
Mississippi State
Holding a slight lead over the Bulldogs, Missouri State boasts a 2-1-1 overall record against Mississippi State. The first match between the squads dates back to Oct. 4, 1998, which resulted as the only loss for the Bears in the series. In their last matchup on Sept. 5, 2003, neither the Bears nor the Bulldogs registered a goal, resulting in a 0-0 draw.
 
Final Details
Friday's match against Arkansas State is slated for 7 p.m. at Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium. Live stats will be available and the match will be streamed on ESPN3. Sunday's contest at Mississippi State will begin at approximately 1 p.m. at the MSU Soccer Field. Live stats and a live stream on the SEC Network+ will be provided for the afternoon matchup. For all the latest information on the Missouri State women's soccer team, visit missouristatebears.com or follow @MSUBearsWSoccer on Twitter.