SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State women's soccer team opens its MVC schedule at Southern Illinois on Friday at 6:30 p.m. (CT) before closing non-conference play at SEMO on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT).
 

Missouri State (3-2-3) at SIU (0-6-1) | Missouri State at SEMO (2-5)
Dates	Friday, Sept. 17 | 6:30 p.m. (CT.) (SIU) | Sunday, Sept. 19 | 1 p.m. (CT.) (SEMO)
Location	Carbondale, Ill. (SIU) | Cape Girardeau, Mo. (SEMO)
Site	Lew Hartzog Complex (SIU) | Houck Field (SEMO)
Follow Along	Live Stats  (SIU) | Live Stats (SEMO) | Watch (SEMO only) MSU Game Notes
Missouri State	Women's Soccer Home Page | Record Book | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok

Match Details
The Bears will look to continue their unbeaten streak with a match at Southern Illinois (Friday, 6:30 p.m.) before traveling to SEMO (Sunday, 1 p.m.). The match against SEMO will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
For all of the latest information and in game updates on the Missouri State women's soccer team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or follow @MSUBearsWSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.
 
Quick Kicks

• Missouri State tied Omaha, 1-1, last Sunday. Senior Sierra Fury provided the goal for Missouri State when she scored in the 41^st minute. Assisting on Fury's goal was Maddie Augustine and Grace O'Keefe.
• Missouri State battled Saint Louis to a scoreless draw last Thursday. It was the Bears' first 0-0 double-overtime draw since they tied Loyola on Feb. 18, 2021.
• The current six-match unbeaten streak is the longest by a Missouri State team since 2019, and the Bears' 3-0-1 start at home is the best start since 2014 when they won four straight on their home turf.
• Last week's back-to-back draws was the first time Missouri State had tied consecutive matches since Oct. 6-13, 2018, when they accomplished the feat against Indiana State and Valparaiso.
• Katherine Montgomery was very impressive last week, as she totaled 13 saves while allowing just one goal in the Bears' two matches. Montgomery picked up her third clean sheet of the season in Thursday's scoreless draw at Saint Louis. Montgomery currently leads the MVC and ranks 44^th nationally in goalkeeper minutes played with 694. The Geneva, Ill., product also ranks 28^th nationally with three shutouts this season.
• In her freshman season, O'Keefe has been the focal point of the Bears' offense this season. She currently leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks 18^th nationally with five assists. The Overland Park, Kan., native leads the Bears with seven points and has tallied a goal or assist in six of the eight matches this season.
• Sierra Fury leads Missouri State in minutes played with 745 minutes through eight matches this season. Fury played all 220 minutes of both double-overtime draws last week.
• Missouri State ranks second in The Valley and 44^th nationally in shot accuracy as the Bears have sent 54.9% of their shots toward the goal.  
• The Bears have the conference lead and rank 90^th nationally with 11 total assists.
• Head Coach Rob Brewer announced his retirement on Aug.18, which will go into effect at the completion of the season. Brewer started the Missouri State program in 1996 and has helped lead the Bears to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 2017, in addition to finishing in the top three of the Missouri Valley Conference standings 11 times. Brewer has helped mentor 109 all-conference selections and 82 academic all-conference honorees during his tenure and has compiled a 222-202-59 record with the Bears.

The Leader of the Bears

• Head coach Rob Brewer has presided over the Missouri State women's soccer program for the entirety of its 26-season history. Overall, Missouri State has produced a 222-202-59 record during Brewer's tenure. The 1999 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year has produced 109 all-conference selections and 86 academic all-conference honorees. In 26 seasons as a program, his team has reached the MVC Tournament 20 times and has only six losing campaigns. The Bears reached the NCAA tournament in 2000 and 2017 under Brewer's guidance.

Balanced Bears Attack

• The Missouri State attack has been balanced this season, as nine Bears have tallied a point and seven Bears have found the back of the net. Seniors Kennady Orlick and Kate Schroeder lead the team in goals with two apiece.

Drawin in Double

• The Bears have gone the full distance without determining a winner three times this season. Their three ties are tied for second nationally this season. The three draws are the most by a Missouri State team since the 2016 team's four. The Missouri State record for ties in a season is five, which was accomplished by the 2005 team.

 
Built Some Bears

• The Missouri State coaching staff has developed quite a pipeline from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, Kan., in recent years as four alums are on the roster. Bella Bryson, Carly Raunig, Jackson, and O'Keefe all prepped for the Saints. All time, there have been eight Aquinas graduates to take the pitch for the Bears.

Know the Foes

• Southern Illinois is 0-6-1 on the season, with its lone tie coming in a scoreless draw with North Alabama back on Aug. 22.
• The Salukis have been shut out in six of their seven matches this season. Their two goals came in a 3-2 loss at Kansas City, with Emma Spotak and Ashley Scesniak providing the goals.
• In its last match out, SIU was defeated by Bellarmine, 2-0.
• Southern Illinois is in its third season as a program. The Salukis will be led by assistant coach Taylor Brittingham in Friday's match.
• SEMO is 2-5-0 (.286) on the season with wins over Maryville (4-1) and Missouri- St. Louis (1-0). Forward Anne-Clara Couturier leads SEMO in scoring with four points on two goals.
• Goalkeeper Bailey Redden ranks fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference in saves per game, averaging 4.6 per contest.
• Head Coach Heather Nelson is in her 23^rd year, she has guided the Redhawks since the program's inception in 1999. In her 23 seasons, she has compiled a 207-143-55 record, including 17 winning seasons, and six OVC regular season championships.

Series History

• Missouri State leads the all-time series, 1-0, over Southern Illinois. The Bears defeated SIU, 4-1, in the inaugural matchup last season. Jacqueline Baetz had two goals in the win with Kyli Jackson and Jade Loftness picking up assists.
• The Bears are 68-62-24 (.519) all time in Missouri Valley Conference play.
• Missouri State holds the advantage over SEMO, 8-2-0 all time. The Bears defeated the Redhawks, 1-0, in their last matchup on Aug. 21, 2018.
• The Bears have an 18-10-0 (.643) mark all time against Ohio Valley Conference members.

Take A Look Ahead

• After Sunday's tilt at SEMO, the Bears take a 10-day break before hosting Illinois State on Wednesday, Sept. 29. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (CT) and admission is free to all matches at Allison South Stadium this season.