Box Score (PDF)
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State men's soccer's four-goal outing proved to be enough to top Evansville in the Valley opener here Saturday night, 4-3.
Lewis Green opened up the scoring in the 12th minute, landing a goal for the Bears (5-1-2) off an assist from Kian Yari.
"I think we were just trying to get in the box more when we get corners," said Green. "We've been working on it a lot and it finally paid off, luckily for us, because we needed to score four."
The Purple Aces (3-2-2) responded later in the first half off a goal by Kai Phillip, tying the match at one goal apiece and setting the tone for a back-and-forth contest all night.
To open the second half, Daniel Normann found the back of the net in the 60th minute off an assist from Green to take the 2-1 lead.
In typical fashion for the evening, UE quickly equalized, 2-2, scoring less than two minutes later thanks to the foot of Oliver Hald.
In the 63rd minute, the flurry of scores continued. MSU once again jumped ahead off another score by Green. In total, the senior finished with two goals and one assist.
However, three minutes later, lightning struck again, and UE tied the match. Phillip secured his second goal of the night, and the Purple Aces and Bears were once again tied, this time at 3-3.
When the 66th minute ended, a total of four goals were scored in the previous six minutes of play.
Like it had three times before, Missouri State took the lead again, this time by virtue of a Nicolo Mulatero goal in the 80th minute to give the Bears the 4-3 edge.
Mulatero's goal proved to be the last, and the Bears took their first match of Valley play.
"The difference today was the full team, I'm so proud of the guys who have been working incredibly hard and substituting in this game and playing like starters," said head coach Michael Seabolt. "Credit to Evansville, they're very much improved and they're going to win a ton of games."
MSU completes its non-conference slate on Tuesday, Sept. 20, when the Bears host Tulsa at 7 p.m.
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