ST. LOUIS – Missouri State swept the Missouri Valley Conference men's soccer weekly awards as Josh Dolling and Kyle Hiebert were named MVC Men's Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, the league announced on Tuesday (Sept. 17).
 
Dolling continues his hot start to the 2019 campaign for the Bears, scoring the game-winning goals in both matches last week to keep Missouri State (4-0-0) undefeated on the season. 
 
The junior forward fired the game-winner in the final minute of regulation to secure the Bears' 1-0 win over Central Arkansas on Tuesday, Sept. 10.  He turned right around and provided late-game heroics once again in the next match, scoring the golden goal for MSU in its 2-1 overtime thriller against Tulsa on Saturday night. 
 
Dolling was also selected to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week for his stellar performance on the pitch last week.  He leads the nation with four game-winning goals, recording the go-ahead goal in each of the Bears' four wins to open the season.  After finishing atop the MVC in goals scored and total points in 2018, he leads the league in both categories this season with four goals and eight total points.
 
A junior from Canada, Hiebert played in 183 minutes in two matches for Missouri State last week.  As a mainstay at center back for MSU, he helped the Bears' defense secure its third straight shutout in the 1-0 win against UCA.  He has contributed two shots for MSU this season, launching a header towards goal off of a corner kick in Saturday's match against Tulsa.
 
Hiebert has played a key role for the MSU defense that ranks fifth nationally in goals against average (0.247), allowing just one goal and holding opponents to just four shots on goal through the first four games.
 
Both Hiebert and Dolling earned preseason honors for the Bears, joining senior defender Ben Stroud on the Preseason All-MVC Team that was announced by the league prior to the season.
 
Missouri State closes out the homestand with a midweek matinee against Valparaiso on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 12:00 p.m. at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium.