SPRINGFIELD – The preseason 19th-ranked Missouri State men's soccer team kicks off its season Thursday night, when it hosts UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. The Bears continue their season on Sunday night at Allison South Stadium when they take on UC Irvine 7 p.m.
Match Details
The Bears (0-0-0, 0-0-0) will play UC Santa Barbara (0-0-0, 0-0-0) and UC Santa Barbara to open its season on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. 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.
Quick Kicks
· The Missouri State men's soccer team was picked as the team to beat for the second-straight year by Missouri Valley Conference coaches. The Bears received all seven first-place votes (49). Coming in second was one of the MVC's newest members, Belmont, with 36 points, while the university of Illinois Chicago and SIUE tied for third place (32).
· MSU has garnered preseason recognition, earning a spot in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top-25 for the third-straight year. The Bears will begin their 2022 campaign ranked No. 19 in the Nation. Missouri State is the only Missouri Valley Conference team featured in the preseason poll. Tulsa, who the Bears face off in their seventh regular-season match, comes in at No. 11 in the top-25.
· Over the last three seasons (2019, Spring 2021, Fall 2021), Missouri State has led the nation in winning percentage with a 47-5-1 (.896) overall record. The mark lands them at the top of Division I in the NCAA over Georgetown (.850), New Hampshire (.843), Washington (.814), Clemson (.792) and Campbell (.782).
· The Bears return a core of players for the 2022 season including their top-two leading scorers. Jon Koka and Jesus Barea will be back in action for the Bears after combining for 11 of the teams' goals.
· MSU returns its leader in assists, Kian Yari, who led the Bears with eight. Yari also ended the season tied for most assists in the MVC, earning the distinction of Midfielder of the Year.
· Over the last three years, the Bears have won 26 of their last 28 matches at home, including a 12-1 record at Allison South Stadium last season. This year, MSU will look to continue its success in Springfield, sporting a home-heavy schedule, which features an incredible eight-match home stand that runs from Aug. 25 to Sept. 24.
Bears From Abroad
· The men's soccer team features a diverse group of men with players coming from all over the world to play for MSU. A total of 24 of the 25 players are international, while one hails from California.
· Over the years, a large number of players have come from thousands of miles to play for Missouri State. Since 2019, at least 75 percent of the Bears' roster have been international players.
· The largest number of Bears' players are from England, with nine members of the roster coming to Springfield from the United Kingdom.
Take a Look Ahead
Following Thursday's season opener, the Bears will host UC Irvine on Sunday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m.
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