Box Score | Season Stats
Springfield – Ben Stroud scored his third goal in two games to extend No. 17 Missouri State men's soccer (8-0-0) perfect start to the season in a thrilling 1-0 double overtime win over visiting Omaha on Tuesday night at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium.
 
The Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week scored the game-winning goal following a free kick sent in by Jack Denton in the 106th minute of the match.
 
MSU pushed its winning streak to eight games, becoming the first team in program history to open the season with eight straight wins.  The Bears are the first MVC team to begin a season 8-0 since Creighton in 2011 and one of just four unbeaten teams in all of Division I men's soccer.
 
Goalkeeper Michael Creek displayed great acrobats with his diving save in the 64th minute off of a Mavericks' free kick.  The junior from St. Louis finished the match with three saves, dropping his goals against average to 0.370 on the season.
 
MSU's defense recorded its second straight shutout as the Bears have held opponents scoreless in five of their eight matches.
 
Both teams struggled to find much offense throughout the match as the teams combined for nine total shots with MSU holding a 5-4 advantage.  Stroud led the Bears with two shots in the game as Matthew Bentley, Stuart Wilkin, and Jack Denton each chipped in a shot as well.
 
"It was a hard fought game tonight, Omaha is a very talented team that has played a tough schedule", said head coach Jon Leamy.  "We kept getting stronger as the game went on and Stroud was able to come up with a great goal there at the end."
 
Missouri State returns to conference play with a road match against Evansville on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5:00 p.m. in Evansville, Ind.