SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State men's soccer team kicks off its season when it faces Belmont on Thursday, August 26 at 8 p.m. (CT) at Allison South Stadium in Springfield, Mo.
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Match Details
The Bears will look to build on their preseason success when they kick off their regular season in their home opener against Belmont at 8 p.m. Thursday night. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
For all of the latest information and in-game updates on the Missouri State men's soccer team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or follow @MSUBearsMSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.
Quick Kicks
• Missouri State returns all 11 starters after a Top-15 finish last season, finishing at No. 13 in the nation. Six of the 11 returning starters started every game for the Bears during their 2020-21 campaign. Among them is the Missouri Valley Conference two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kyle Heibert, MVC Forward of the Year
Nicolo Mulatero and 2019 Goalkeeper of the Year,
Michael Creek.
• The Bears return three of the Missouri Valley Conference's top-five scorers. Senior forward
Nicolo Mulatero was the team and conference scoring leader in 2020-21. He accounted for seven of the team's 26 goals last season, with six coming in conference play. Senior
Aadne Bruseth and sophomore Jesús Barea tallied four goals apiece in 2020- 21, which was good for third and fifth in the conference for scoring. They will also be back in action for the Bears this fall.
• As the 2020-21 regular-season and tournament champions, Missouri State won both league championships for the second time joining the 1999 team who doubled-up on conference titles. MSU claimed the program's ninth overall MVC regular-season crown and its sixth championship in the past 10 years. With the win against Loyola in the title match, MSU earned its second MVC Tournament championship.
• At the conclusion of the 2021 season, head coach
Jon Leamy will retire after 30 years at the helm. Long-time assistant coach and head coach designate
Michael Seabolt will take over the reigns on January 1, 2022.
• Missouri State brings several 2021 preseason honors into the season. The Bears were picked to win the conference championship in the MVC Coaches' poll, earning every first-place vote. In the NCAA 2021 United Soccer Coaches Poll, MSU was picked to finish 12th in the nation. Individually, five players made the 2021 Preseason AllMVC Team. Forwards
Aadne Bruseth,
Josh Dolling and
Nicolo Mulatero, defender
Kyle Hiebert, and Midfielder
Kian Yari were the Bears' conference selections for the 2021 season.
Know the Foe
• Belmont University finished the abbreviated 2020-21 season with an overall record of 7-3-2, good for a winning percentage of .667. In the Southern Conference, the Bruins sported a 3-2-1 record.
• Belmont is led by head coach David Costa who is entering his third season at the helm of the Bruins' program. Costa is the fifth head men's soccer coach in program history, and the team's 7-3-2 record in 2020-21 capped off one of the most successful seasons the team recorded. He helped lead the Bruins to their first-ever appearance in the SoCon Tournament championship match where they ultimately fell 1-0 to UNC Greensboro.
• The Bruins competed in two exhibition matches during the preseason against the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Memphis. Belmont defeated UAH, 3-1 on Aug. 16. On Friday, Aug. 20, Belmont and Memphis finished the match in a 2-2 tie.
Series History
• Missouri State leads the series with Belmont University with an all time record of 3-2-1 against the Bruins.
• The first time the teams met was in 2000. MSU won the match, 5-1 as the visiting team. Most recently, the teams met in 2013 in two seperate contests. Missouri State dropped the first contest in overtime. One month later, the Bears earned a 2-0 victory at Allison South Stadium.
Take a Look Ahead
•The Bears will take on Rockhurst on Sunday, August 29 at 6 p.m. The game was a late addition to the schedule and brings Missouri State's regular-season slate to 19 games.
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