Box Score | Season Stats
 
SPRINGFIELD - Two quick goals in the final 20 minutes of play by junior forward Jon Koka were the difference makers for the Missouri State men's soccer squad as it raced to a thrilling 3-1 victory over Belmont, here Thursday in the season opener for both teams.
 
Belmont (0-1) got on the board first, netting an early score in the 10th minute when senior forward Niccolo Dagnoni got a quick strike past MSU veteran goalkeeper Michael Creek, to put the home side in a rare deficit.
 
However, it didn't take long for the Bears (1-0) to claw back with senior defender Kyle Hiebert finding the back of the net off an assist from junior midfielder Kian Yari to tie things up in the 19th minute.
 
Both teams traded shots in the minutes before halftime with the Bruins registering two and the Bears taking an additional four. Strong defensive play sent them into the locker rooms with the score knotted at one.
 
Midway through the second half, Koka gave the Bears the lead for good, securing his first score of the new season off an assist from senior Jack Denton.
 
"We started losing one-nil, so we knew we had to come back, and after that first goal we knew we could," said Koka. "I just got the ball, looked at the goal, kept driving, cut inside, goal."
 
Less than a minute later, the junior rode his momentum to a second goal, as he lobbed a short kick over Belmont goalkeeper Drew Romig's head off an assist from newcomer Javier Martin-Gil.
 
The Bears rode that momentum and controlled the rest of the game to coast to a 3-1 home victory.
 
MSU held the advantage in shots on goal, 7-4, with Denton leading the Bears with three shots.
 
"First game of the season [we're] super excited to get a win in front of our home crowd, an amazing job from the guys to stay focused and come from behind," said head coach designate Michael Seabolt. "We're going to quit giving up goals, but to score three was great."
 
With the win, Missouri State continued its streak of victories in home openers to 24 in a row, dating back to 1998.
 
MSU resumes play this weekend with a home match against Rockhurst University (0-0-1) at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free for all Bears home games this season at Allison South Stadium.