SPRINGFIELD – Nicolo Mulatero registered his first career brace to lead the charge for No. 13 Missouri State (6-0-0, 5-0-0 MVC) in an action-packed 3-2 win over Drake (2-2-1, 2-2-1 MVC) here Monday.
 
After a four-goal first half sent things tied at 2-2 into intermission, Mulatero's second goal of the match in the 49th minute resulted in the game-winner and kept the Bears' flawless 2021 record intact.
 
The two teams wasted no time in lighting up the scoreboard with a frantic start that resulted in two quick goals, one apiece from each side.  Right after the opening whistle, Drake's Istvan Wilhelms shot out of the gate and broke through the MSU defense to fire in a goal before the first minute had passed.
 
Facing their first deficit of the year, the Bears responded in immediate fashion to draw the match even in the 3rd minute.  Freshman Jesus Barea notched the game's first equalizer after a Bears breakaway opportunity brought out the Bulldogs goalkeeper Jared Brown and teammate Aadne Bruseth provided the front end of a one-two punch to set up Barea's third goal of the season. 
 
Mulatero put the Bears ahead for the first time in the contest in the 15th minute.  Utilizing tactful ball movement from the MSU attack, the junior forward collected a pass from Bruseth and was able to slip it past the outstretch arms of Brown for a 2-1 Bears advantage.
 
The Bulldogs delivered a counter-strike of their own to tie the match for the second time.  Leo Fuchs received a pass from Leroy Enzugusi and fired in the game-tying goal against a Bears backline that had only given up one score thru the first five matches coming into today.
 
With both teams catching their breath at halftime following the high-scoring first half, it was Mulatero's quick-striking goal that capped the game's offensive outburst.  Once again, Bruseth was the stage-setter as he chipped in his third assist of the game that allowed Mulatero to land the decisive blow.
 
The Bears owned a 9-7 advantage on shots and made the most of their opportunities with three of their six shots on goal finding the back of the net.    
 
Missouri State heads out for a three-game road trip, beginning with a match against Loyola on Friday, March 26 at 2 p.m.