Box Score | Season Stats

SPRINGFIELD – A pair of seniors propelled the No. 14 Missouri State men's soccer team (11-0, 5-0 MVC) to a 3-1 win over Drake (6-6, 3-3 MVC) on Senior Day here Sunday at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium.
 
With the victory, coach Jon Leamy's squad continued its stranglehold atop the Missouri Valley Conference standings and extended its perfect season as the only unbeaten, untied squad remaining in all of Division I men's soccer. The 11-0 start is the second-best in school history, while its 5-0 start in league play is its best Valley run to start a campaign since 2013.
 
The Bears broke open the scoring halfway through the first 45 minutes of play with Stuart Wilkin's goal in the 29th minute.  The senior forward maneuvered his way around a pair of Bulldog defenders just inside the Drake box, firing a shot that deflected off Drake goalkeeper, Luke Anderson, and rolled in to give MSU the 1-0 lead.
 
In the closing minutes of the first half, Drake's Liam Wilson scored on a header following a Bulldog free kick to tie the match at 1-1.  It was the first goal given up by the MSU defense since the first half of the Bears' overtime win against Loyola on Sept. 22.
 
MSU continued its aggressive attack early in the second half with the Bears launching four shots within the first 15 minutes of play, including a shot from Aadne Gikling Bruseth that bounced off the crossbar. 
 
The Bears' pressure was rewarded in the 74th minute of play as Bruseth drew a penalty kick on his run inside the Bulldog's box to send Wilson off the pitch with a red card.  Senior Matthew Bentley followed with his third PK goal of the season to give the Bears a 2-1 lead.
 
Bruseth found the back of the net just a few minutes later in the 77th minute.  Jack Denton sent a Bears' corner kick in that ricocheted off Kyle Hiebert to Bruseth who scored the header to seal the 3-1 win for MSU.
 
The Bears outshot the Bulldogs 17-3 in the match with Bruseth, Wilkin, and Nicolo Mulatero each recording three shots apiece.  With his PK goal in the 74th minute, Bentley has scored five goals in three matches, increasing his season total to seven goals which is tied for first in the conference.
 
"We started off the game well with Stu's goal, but let them back in it there before halftime", said associate head coach, Michael Seabolt.  "We talk a lot about focusing on the next moment and the next goal, so great job by the guys to respond in the second half and come away with the win."
 
As the Valley's all-time leader in conference wins, Leamy earned his 100th career victory to improve his all-time MVC record to 100-72-23 in league play.
 
Missouri State heads to Peoria, Ill. next Saturday (Oct. 19) to face Bradley for the second time in three matches as the Bears look to match their school record for consecutive victories.