SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State men's soccer team will wrap up its regular-season home slate on Friday night when the Bears host Drake at 6 p.m.
Match Details
The Bears (9-1-3, 5-0-1) will travel host Drake (4-2-0, 6-3-3) on Friday night on Senior Night at Allison South Stadium. For all 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.
Promotions
• MSU will honor nine seniors on Friday night who have made significant contributions to the program.
• Friday night's match is also part of the weekend's Homecoming festivities and the Bears will recognize Missouri State men's soccer alumni at the game.
Quick Kicks
• MSU's defense is also only allowing an average of 7.2 shots-per-game (.085).
• The Bears continue to produce a high-caliber offense. Through 12 matches this season, MSU has tallied 31 goals, an average of 2.56 per game. MSU ranks 15th in the nation in scoring offense and is also tied for 9th in the NCAA in goal differential, outscoring its opponents 31-8.
• Senior midfielders Jack Denton and Kian Yari lead the team in assists this season with four apiece.
• From 2019-present MSU has only lost three matches on its home turf at Allison South Stadium, sporting a 33-3-3 record at home (.885).
• MSU has a strong presence in goal in goalkeeper Harry Townsend who has been a key defensive piece this season. Individually, he is tied for second in shutout percentage in the NCAA. Townsend is also just two shutouts shy of matching the Missouri State single-season shutout record of 11 shutouts in one year.
• The Bears lead the Missouri Valley Conference this season in points (94), goals (31), assists (32), shots (232), shots on goal (103) and have allowed the fewest goals in the MVC (8) over 13 matches (.615).
• With a 9-1-3 record through 13 matches, MSU ranks 10th in the NCAA in overall winning percentage (.808).
• Since the start of the 2019 season, the Bears have only lost three regular-season matches over 56 games (51-3-2).
• As of Oct. 23, MSU ranks 26th in the nation in Adjusted RPI.
• MSU holds the advantage over opponents in corner kicks this season, earning 82 while only allowing 34 through 13 matches.
• Townsend earned Valley Defensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 25, after blanking SIUE (Oct. 19) and Belmont (Oct. 23). The accolade was his second this season.
Bears in the Polls
• The Bears are ranked No. 16 in the eighth United Soccer Coaches poll, climbing two spots after two shutouts over SIUE and Belmont.
• MSU is also ranked in Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News' national polls with respective rankings of No. 17 and No. 19.
Scoring Breakdown
• Over half of the Bears' goals have come in the second half with 19 of the team's 31 goals being scoring in the final 45 minutes of regulation. Most recently, MSU recorded three goals in the final 45 minutes against SIUE.
• The Bears are averaging 2.38 goals-per-game while holding their opponents to .62 goals-per-game.
• The Bears have no absence of a scoring presence this season. Through 13 matches, 10 different MSU players have scored at least one goal, with eight recording multiple goals so far.
• Three Bears have recorded two-plus goal games this season. Nicolo Mulatero has two, coming against UC Irvine and Bradley, while Jesus Barea, Lewis Green and James Jennings' multi-goal outings were against CSUN, Evansville and SIUE, respectively.
Take a Look Ahead
MSU completes its regular-season slate when it faces off against SIUE on Wednesday, Nov. 2, for the second time this season, the first ending in a 3-0 victory for the Bears. The second matchup between the Bears and Cougars will kick off at 6 p.m. and air on ESPN+.
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