MIAMI, Fla. - The Missouri State Bears men's soccer team succumbed to the fourth-seeded FIU Panthers (7-8-2) on Friday night, for the second time this season with a 1-0 scoreline. In a tightly contested American Conference Men's Soccer Championship Tournament quarterfinal, the Panthers scored a lone goal in the 65th minute to advance to the semifinal and end Missouri State's season.

The fifth-seeded Bears (6-6-4) and Panthers opened up the match on equal terms, denying each squad the opportunity to score in the first half. Both teams excelled defensively and only tallied three shots each.

It was the Bears that created the only real scoring opportunity in the first half, with the first shot on goal in the 25th minute by senior Fumiya Shiraishi to the top right of net, that was saved by Panther Nigel Van Haveren.

In the second half both teams worked hard to create more aggressive opportunities. Ultimately it was the Panthers that made the pivotal move in the 65th minute. Panther Alfonso Gilleard-Soriano was right where he needed to be after a corner kick set him up to score from inside the Bears' box.

The Bears fought hard to come back. In the 78th minute junior Diego Real shot to the bottom left of the net, saved by the Panthers. Freshman Harry Hogben attempted a shot on goal in the 89th minute, but it was saved by Van Haveren.

Missouri State ended the night with eight shots with three on goal, while the Panthers shot seven shots with two on goal. The Bears tallied nine corner kicks while the Panthers collected two.

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