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DES MOINES, IOWA – The Missouri State women's soccer team (8-8-2, 2-3-2 MVC) put up a valiant effort in its regular season finale here Thursday, but a goal from Drake in the closing minutes of regulation sealed a heartbreaking 1-0 loss for the visiting Bears.
 
Concluding the season with a 2-3-2 Missouri Valley Conference record, the Bears locked up the No. 5 seed and a rematch on the road against No. 4 Illinois State in the opening round of the MVC Women's Soccer Championships Sunday afternoon in Normal Ill. The Redbirds finished with a 4-2 league record.
 
Alyssa Brand's finisher at the 82-minute mark broke the scoreless tie and lifted the Bulldogs (8-8-1, 5-1-1 MVC) to the win and the No. 2 seed heading into the tournament.
 
MSU's Ashley Coonfield eyed the goal early in the match, outrunning a defender and launching it towards the net, where it was nabbed by Drake's goalkeeper. The Bears had one other chance in the first period that drifted wide, but both teams remained scoreless heading into intermission.

Coming out of halftime, both offenses fought to find the net, with Drake barely edging out the Bears in chances in the second stanza, 7-5.

Missouri State's defense battled the entire 90 minutes, shutting down multiple scoring opportunities before Brand's last-minute score.

Goalkeeper Kaitlin Maxwell showed her off her flexibility, making six crucial saves in the match. A grab at the 40-minute mark marked her 100^th of the season. She is now two saves away from cracking the program's top five in single season save records.

"It was a hard fought match," said Head Coach Rob Brewer. "Both teams played physically and defended well. Now we enter the tournament phase of the season and hope our hard work pays off." 

Missouri State will trek to Normal, Ill. for the opening round of the MVC Women's Soccer Championships against No. 4 Illinois State on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. The tournament championship game is Nov. 4.

For all the latest information on the Missouri State women's soccer team visit MissouriStateBears.com or follow @MSUBearsWSoccer on Twitter. 
 
Scoring Summary

• DU – Alyssa Brand, 82:29 – Played from 13 to 11 to 18, shot off near post and spun into the goal