KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Missouri State men's soccer forward Jesus Barea and midfielder Alex Matthews have been named to the United Soccer Coaches Division I All-America first and third teams, respectively, by United Soccer Coaches, the organization announced Friday afternoon. The award is one of the nation's top honors in college soccer.

Barea and Matthews were also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region first team earlier this week.

Barea (Cádiz, Spain) is tied for fourth in the nation in goals (15), which is tied for the second-most goals in a single season in Missouri State history. He leads DI in shots on goal per game (2.78). He is also third nationally in shots per game (4.50), fourth in points per game (1.89) and fifth in goals per game (0.83). Barea scored at least one goal in 11 of Missouri State's 18 matches and opened the 2024 campaign with eight goals in the first five matches. He earned a brace in four matches this season, including consecutive outings against Pacific (Aug. 26) and Kansas City (Sept. 2). 

He was named the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year for the second time in his career, becoming the first Bear to win the award twice after getting it in 2022. He was also the league's Forward of the Year and made the All-MVC first team. Barea became the program's all-time leader in shots taken (261). He is also second in program history in career starts (85), tied for second in career goals (34) and third in career points (87). He was recently named a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American and is a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist. 

Matthews (Derbyshire, England) made his first career All-America team and was one of three Bears to make the All-MVC first team in 2024. Matthews led Missouri State with 1,593 minutes on the field — playing all but 27 minutes for the whole season — and had a career-high two assists in 2024. He contributed to the team's +22 goal differential and its 239-109 shot differential. He also made the 2024 MVC All-Tournament Team.

The two selections mark the 11th and 12th times a Missouri State player has been named a United Soccer Coaches All-American. Barea marks the fourth time a player has made the All-America first team, while Matthews is the third Bear to make the third team. Former Missouri State players Kyle Hiebert and Josh Dolling (2017-21) were named All-Americans in their last three seasons (2019, 2020-21, 2021). Nicolo Mulatero (2018-22) was the most recent United Soccer Coaches All-American, making the third team in 2022.

Barea and Matthews led Missouri State to a 12-4-2 record, including a 7-0-1 conference record to secure an undefeated MVC regular season championship. The Bears earned a national seeding in the NCAA Tournament and a first-round bye for the second time in team history.

This year's All-Americans will be recognized for their accomplishments at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Ceremony & Reception on Saturday, January 11, 2025 in Chicago, Ill., in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Convention.