CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Missouri State women's soccer team secured the No. 1 seed in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and hosting rights with a 1-0 win at Southern Illinois on Thursday.
 
The Bears (9-4-3, 7-0-1 MVC) have also secured at least part of the regular-season title for the first time in program history. With 22 points in the conference standings, Drake is the only other school with the chance to tie MoState. In that scenario, Drake would need to win its next three games and the Bears would have to lose their final two.
 
Missouri State secured its seeding and the win over SIU (6-4-5, 2-2-3 MVC) thanks to an unassisted goal in the 86^th minute from Kaeli Benedict. The senior scored off a free kick that went right into the top of the goal and past SIU's Fabiana Solano. Benedict scored her fourth goal of the season to tie her previous season-high set in 2022.
 
Camielle Day recorded her 26^th career shutout against the Salukis. Day made one save in the game and sits second in Bears' record book, just behind Jackie Jasper with 27 (2005-08).
 
The Salukis stayed alive through an offensive onslaught from the Bears. MoState took 20 shots to SIU's four with four shots on-goal to the Salukis' one. Julia Kristensen led the Bears in shooting with a career high eight shots and two on-goal.
 
"Wow what a game," head coach Kirk Nelson said. "It took everything we had and everyone on the Team to pull that one off against an organized opponent. I'm so excited and proud of the very special team. But the work is not done. Looking forward to hosting the tournament. We keep grinding!"
 
The Bears have a bye on Sunday but could still clinch the regular season title if Drake loses to or ties UNI. MoState will look to continue its conference winning streak in a week at Illinois State at 4:00 p.m.