SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State women's soccer team won its fourth Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship at home on Sunday with a 4-0 victory over Drake.
 
The Bears win their title with their largest score differential in a tournament final. In 2000, 2017 and 2022, MoState won by 1-0. Missouri State now holds the longest winning streak in the country with nine straight games.
 
The Bears (13-4-3) dominated the Bulldogs (8-7-6) for the full 90 minutes of regulation time for their fourth title. MVC Player of the Year Julia Kristensen scored what would be the eventual game-winning goal in the fifth minute of play. Drake's Addie Ford knocked the ball away from Kristensen as she entered the goal box, but Kristensen was able to quickly recover and fire one off into the top right corner of the net.
 
Grace O'Keefe extended that lead 30 minutes later with an assist from Kristensen. The senior forward made her goal from approximately the same area as Kristensen but chose to aim for the bottom left corner after evading a Drake defender. O'Keefe's shot just barely made it by the post and into the goal.
 
Early on in the second half, O'Keefe scored again for the first multi-goal game of her career. Kaeli Benedict set up Kristensen who found a wide-open O'Keefe around the penalty mark. When Ford came out to meet the Bears, O'Keefe shot it past her.
 
Benedict wanted in in the scoring action with 10 minutes left to play. She took a shot in the penalty area that was deflected by Ford. Lily Patterson made her first career assist to get the ball back to Benedict who tapped it into the bottom right of the goal.
 
Goalkeeper Camielle Day had her 30^th career shutout thanks to two saves she made in the 53^rd and 59^th minute s, tying the MVC single season record with her 11^th shutout of the season in the process.
 
The Bears outshot the Bulldogs 16-6 with seven shots on-goal to Drake's four. Benedict led the Bears with career-tying seven shots with four on-goal.
 
O'Keefe won the prestigious Elite 18 award for the second time in her career. The award goes to the player on the winning team with the highest GPA. She was also named the Tournament MVP. Jenna Anderson, Kristensen and Day join O'Keefe on the All-Tournament Team.
 
"I'm at a real loss for words," head coach Kirk Nelson said. "This is a special team and staff. Saying I'm proud is an understatement. Today was a complete win and a powerful moment for the program. Excited to see what's ahead!"
 
The Bears won the MVC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. A watch party will be held in Glass Hall room 486 at 3:00 p.m. on Monday to reveal where and when the Bears will play their first round of their fourth national tournament appearance.