MVC Release

ST. LOUIS – The defending Missouri Valley Conference regular season champion, Missouri State men's soccer team, is tabbed as the team to beat in the upcoming MVC soccer season in a poll of league coaches, the league announced Thursday.

Capturing preseason all-conference honors are Conor Ingram and Ben Stroud.

The Bears are fresh off their seventh MVC regular season title, returning eight starters from last year's 9-5-3 (5-2-1 MVC) squad. Head coach Jon Leamy heads into his 27^th season at the helm and will look to build off last season's championship match run.

"It is great to gain recognition from the league coaches," Leamy said. "We are just looking forward to this season and seeing what we can do on the field."

Offensively, the Bears return 93 percent of their goal scoring from a season ago. Missouri State also returns the majority of its record breaking back line that produced 11 shutouts in 2017.

A first-team All-MVC selection, Ingram, led the team in 2017 with seven goals, marking goals in five straight matches (Sept. 10 – Sept. 23). Ingram finished second in the conference in game-winning goals with four and was named MVC Offensive Player of the Week two consecutive weeks (Sept. 19 and 26) becoming the first MSU player to earn that honor in consecutive weeks since 2009. He also earned NSCAA second team All-West Region honors for his work on the field.

Stroud returns as a second-team All-MVC choice from a season ago, where he was a staple in the Bears back line that held opponents to .88 goals per game and a .388 shot on goal percentage. The Bears defense was ranked third nationally in shutout percentage (.647) during the 2017 season. Stroud attempted five shots with two aimed at goal during his 13 games for the Bears.

"This is great for Conor (Ingram) and (Ben) Stroud," Leamy said, "It is special to see guys that work hard get celebrated by the league.

The Bears travel to UMKC Aug. 24 to open the regular season, and host Cal State Fullerton on Aug. 27 at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium.

For all of the latest information on the Missouri State men's soccer team, visit missouristatebears.com or follow @MSUBearsMSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.