SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - It was a game of missed opportunities for the Missouri State men's soccer team (5-4-3, 0-2-0), losing to Evansville (7-4-0, 1-0-0), 2-0, on Wednesday (Oct. 10) at Plaster Field. The Bears were shutout at home by a conference foe for the second match in-a-row and gave up two goals to Purple Ace defender Nick Schroeder in the second period.

"We're going to come back tomorrow and get better in practice," head coach Jon Leamy said. "Right now we're causing some problems for ourselves that I know we can eliminate. There were some good chances to score and we flat out didn't get it done. The last I knew, we are accountable for that."

One of the Bears' best chances at a goal came in the 20th minute on a beautiful set piece. From midfield, defender Ben Griffiths sent a cross to Parker Maher, who nearly headed it in from five yards out. Evansville goalkeeper Eric Teppen made his second save of the night on the play.

The Bears continued to lead the time of possession battle into halftime and came up short on three additional shots on goal before the break. At half, Missouri State had recorded 10 shots to Evansville's four.

Not long after the start of the second period, Schroeder took the first step in snapping the Purple Aces' three-game losing skid to the Bears. In the 52nd minute, he raced to a blocked clear and gained possession for an uncontested breakaway. Faking MSU goalkeeper Andrew Riggs to the right, Schroeder took the shot from 20 yards out and snuck it past his left side to give Evansville the 1-0 advantage. 

Schroeder, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, dashed the hopes of a MSU comeback in the 78th minute with his second goal of the game. Taking a free kick from 50 yards out, UE's Brandon Causey sent the ball downfield to Schroeder, who then used his height advantage to get in position for a header that was out of reach for the Bears' goalkeeper.

The Purple Aces' two goals marked just the second time this season that the MSU defense has allowed more than one goal in a match.

Offensively, Missouri State was limited to a pair of shots following Evansville's second score. The Bears outshot the visitors, 18-13, however, they were held without a shot on goal in the second half. Junior Cole Alexander paced the MSU attack with four shots. Both goalkeepers logged four saves on the evening. 

Missouri State will now play four consecutive matches on the road which includes stops at SIU Edwardsville, Central Arkansas, No. 17 SMU and No. 24 Creighton. The Bears will travel to Edwardsville, Ill. to take on the Cougars on Saturday (Oct. 13) at 7 p.m.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Men's NCAA Tournament First Round Recap

Women's NCAA Tournament Second Round Recap

Vanderbilt Shocks No. 1 Florida State