No. 13 Missouri State (2-0-1) vs. VCU (0-2-2)
Date	Saturday, Sept. 9 | 7:00 p.m. CT
Location	Springfield, Missouri
Site	Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium
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SPRINGFIELD - No. 13 Missouri State men's soccer comes home to Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium for the first time this season following an undefeated three-game road trip to begin the year. Following wins against then-No. 14 Maryland and Kansas as well as a draw against Tulsa, the Bears (2-0-1) welcome VCU (0-2-2) on Saturday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. CT.

Head-to-Head Series
Missouri State and Virginia Commonwealth University meet officially for the very first game between the two schools. The Bears and the Ram did play in an exhibition game last season at Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond, Virginia.

Scouting the Rams

• The VCU Rams enter Saturday's game 0-2-2 including a 1-1 tie against No. 23 New Hampshire and a 4-0 loss to No. 21 Florida International. The Rams also drew with American University and lost to North Carolina, 4-1 on Monday. 

• A different Rams player has scored each of VCU's four goals this season. Junior midfielder Damian Gallegos scored against No. 23 New Hampshire to force a tie. Freshman midfielder Andrey Salmeron and junior forward Nolan Coetzee scored against American. Finally, junior midfielder William Hitchcock scored against North Carolina. Salmeron has taken nine of VCU's 34 shots.

• Opponents have outscored VCU 11-4 and outshot the Rams 73-34. All 11 goals allowed by VCU have come via an assist. 

• The Rams were picked to finish fourth out of 14 teams in the 2023 Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll behind Saint Louis, Dayton and Loyola Chicago. 

Notes:

• Missouri State men's soccer enters the 2023 season holding the best overall record of 59-7-9 (.866) and best home record of 35-3-3 (.890) since the beginning of the 2019 season. 

• The Bears come back to Springfield for their home opener after beating then-No.14 Maryland and Kansas City, 1-0, and drawing with Tulsa, 1-1. Senior midfielder Jack Denton scored both goals in the two 1-0 wins and Javier Martin Gil scored the equalizing late first-half goal against Tulsa. Denton sits tied for third in the nation in game-winning goals.

• Missouri State is ranked No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches Week 2 poll, up five spots from Week 1. The Bears received eight votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll but are now ranked for the sixth-straight season going back to 2018.

• The Bears' precision offense is 14th in the nation in shot accuracy with 14 of 25 shots being on goal (.560). Missouri State has outshot opponents 25-8 in its first three games, at least doubling the opponent each time.

• Senior goalkeeper Harry Townsend continues his strong start to the season having allowed just one penalty kick goal in 270 minutes of play. Townsend is tied for 11th in the nation in goalkeeper goals against average (0.033), tied for 12th in total shutouts (2) and was the MVC Defensive Player of the Week for August 29.

• Missouri State's defense has also been strong, only allowing one goal in its first three games on a penalty kick against Tulsa. The Bears have yet to allow a live goal in the field of play and have allowed the least goals out of all MVC teams. Missouri State is ranked 17th in the nation in shutout percentage (0.667) and 10th in team goals against average (0.333).

• Since 2019, Missouri State is 45-0-0 when scoring two or more goals. The last time the Bears scored two goals and lost was on Nov. 9, 2018, in the MVC Semifinals vs. No. 1 seed Central Arkansas when Missouri State lost in penalty kicks.

• VCU enters Saturday's game 0-2-2 on the season, including 0-1-1 against ranked opponents. The Rams started the season with a draw against No. 23 New Hampshire before losing to No. 21 Florida International. VCU then tied American University and most recently lost to North Carolina, 4-1 on Monday. Missouri State will be VCU's third ranked opponent in its first five games.

• Fans are encouraged to wear white for Missouri State's White Out game and 200 rally towels will be given away.