PEORIA, Ill. – Kian Yari punched in the game-winning goal to seal No. 13 Missouri State's 1-0 victory over Bradley in an overtime thriller here Thursday night.
 
In the waning seconds of the extra period, Nicolo Mulatero sent a ball into the box that ricocheted off the chest of Jesus Barea to the feet of Yari who executed a brilliant hesitation move to clear a lane and deliver the decisive blow. 
 
"It was just a matter of when the goal was coming," said Yari following the match.  "We had to stay patient and keep attacking, knowing that good results would follow if we continued our game plan.  It was a great ball sent in by Nicolo (Mulatero) that fell to me and I managed to squeeze it through."
 
The game-winner came on the 21st shot of the match for an MSU (5-0-0, 4-0-0 MVC) squad that peppered Bradley's goalkeeper Bryce Logan all night long and rewarded the visitors for their 99-plus minutes of relentless attacking.
 
Bradley (2-4-0, 1-4-0 MVC) managed to absorb the Bears' assault for most of the game while looking for moments to counter.  The Braves registered six shots while trying to match the MSU frenzy, but were limited in their chances with just one corner kick opportunity.
 
With brisk temperatures inside Shea Stadium, the MSU attack looked to ignite in the early going by continuing its trend of relying on corner set-pieces to apply the pressure.  The Bears drew three of their eight first-half corner kicks during the game's opening 10 minutes.
 
Aadne Bruseth looked to have a celebratory end to his run in the 7th minute with a header goal, but the Norwegian forward was just a step off the line to negate his scoring efforts.
 
MSU's ninth and final shot of the first period came in the last seconds as defender Greg Stratton found himself in the attacking half and sent a ball towards goal, but Logan was there for one of his nine saves of the match to keep the scoreless tie intact heading into halftime.
 
The Bears continued their ferocious assault in the second half, registering an additional nine shots.  In the 64th minute, Bruseth had another great opportunity and launched a bending shot that didn't quite break enough to find paydirt.
 
Back-to-back corner kicks in the 84th provided MSU a chance to hold off overtime, but a header from Stratton was collected by Logan as the Bears went into the extra period for the first time this season.
 
While the attack occupied the Braves defense with a barrage of shots, the Bears backline kept action away from goalkeeper Michael Creek, who saved the two shots that were sent his way to tally his fourth clean sheet of the season.    
 
Stratton and Josh Dolling led the Bears with four shots apiece with Dolling recording three of his after the intermission, including a strike in the 56th minute that just missed catching the corner of the net.
 
Missouri State returns to Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium on Monday, March 22 for the series finale against Drake with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m.