Box Score KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A pair of second-half goals from Kyle Hiebert and Jesus Barea led No. 19 Missouri State to a 2-0 win over Creighton here Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Bears (3-0-0) posted their third straight shutout and limited the Bluejays (2-2-0) to six shots in the neutral-site contest.
 
Playing in gusty conditions at Swope Park, the Bears controlled the non-conference battle right from kickoff.  MSU earned a staggering 14 corner kicks in the first half, leading to an 8-1 advantage in the shots columns at intermission.
 
Despite the flurry of set-piece opportunities from the Bears, the scoreboard remained untouched thru the first 45 minutes of play.
 
However, it didn't take long for MSU to change its fortune after the second-half whistle.  On the Bears' 15th corner kick, Hiebert soared over the Creighton defense to knock in a header at the 50:42 mark and give Missouri State a 1-0 lead.  It was the captain's first goal of 2021 and third of his career.
 
Barea made it a 2-0 favor for MSU in the 70th minute after he collected a cross from Nicolo Mulatero and hammered home the insurance goal.  Barea, a freshman from Cadiz, Spain, notched the second goal of his young MSU career while Mulatero chipped in his third assist of the season. 
 
All-conference forward Josh Dolling joined Barea in sending a team-high five shots in the match.  Aadne Bruseth added three shots to the MSU assault with two of his coming on goal.  Taking most of the Bears' corner kicks, Kian Yari registered his first assist of the season after connecting with Hiebert on the opening goal.
 
"First of all we are appreciative of Creighton and their staff on working together to put on this game and getting the chance to reunite a regional rivalry," said sport director Michael Seabolt.  "Today was a great team-effort and our veteran players Josh Dolling, Kyle Hiebert, Greg Stratton, Connor Langan and Michael Creek were all very solid for us and everybody else followed their lead.  It was a very mature and professional performance from our end.  It was great to have Jack Denton back, we thank team trainer Eric Trueblood and our team doctors for their help with his recovery, and he came in and played really well."
 
Missouri State returns to Missouri Valley Conference action with a home match against Evansville on Sunday, March 14.  Kickoff from Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium is set for 6 p.m. with free admission for all spectators.