CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Missouri State women's soccer team opened up MVC play in dominant fashion by defeating Southern Illinois, 3-0, on Thursday evening to run its unbeaten streak to seven matches.
 
The seven-match unbeaten streak is the longest by a Missouri State team since 2011, when the Bears reeled off 11 straight matches without a loss. With the win, the Bears move to 4-2-3 overall and 1-0 in MVC play.
 
"It was great to pick up three points on the road," head coach Rob Brewer stated. "We had a good start and kept the shutout. We looked very strong at times, and it was nice to have contributions from so many people."
 
Missouri State got its first goal in the 12^th minute when Isabel Burke found the back of the net for the first time this season off a pass from Grace O'Keefe. The assist was O'Keefe's sixth of the season.
 
One minute later, Kaeli Benedict recorded her first collegiate goal to increase the Bears' lead to 2-0.
 
O'Keefe added to the Missouri State lead in the 24^th minute by netting her second goal of the season. She has now tallied an assist or goal in seven of the Bears' nine matches this season.
 
The Bears entered the break with a 3-0 lead, their largest of the season. In the first half, MSU held the advantage in shots (7-5) and shots on goal (4-0). The three goals were the most in the first half by an MSU team in over a decade.
 
Missouri State held Southern Illinois (0-7-1) at bay in the second half as neither team found the back of the net.
 
Overall, SIU held the upper hand in shots (14-13), while Missouri State held the advantage in shots on goal (8-3).

Katherine Montgomery continued her solid play by making three saves on her way to her fourth clean sheet of the season. In the last 390 minutes of game time, Montgomery and the MSU defense have allowed just one goal.

The Salukis' Mady Alaluf recorded five saves and allowed three goals in her 90 minutes of action.
 
With the win, the Bears improved to 2-0 against the Salukis and 69-62-24 all time in MVC play.
   
Missouri State is back in action on Sunday when the Bears travel to SEMO to finish non-conference play. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CT), and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.