CONWAY, Ark. - The Missouri State men's soccer team (5-6-3, 0-4 MVC) has hit a dry spell following a 4-0-3 start to begin the 2012 campaign. On Wednesday (Oct. 17), the Bears dropped their sixth game in seven matches, suffering a 1-0 setback at Central Arkansas (7-6-0, 1-2).

With the 1-0 shutout, Central Arkansas was able to snap a five-game losing streak and notched its first conference win. Through four league matches, Missouri State is the only team in the Valley yet to land one in the win column.

After allowing two goals in back-to-back matches against Evansville and SIU Edwardsville, the Bears' defense regrouped and played as a cohesive unit on Wednesday afternoon against the Bears of Central Arkansas. 

Despite allowing nine shots in the first half, four were blocked by the MSU defense and two others were off target. 

All three shots on goal by UCA forward Taylor Hart were pulled in by Missouri State goalkeeper Andrew Riggs to give him a clean slate in the first half for the 11th time in 13 games.

At the break, Central Arkansas outshot Missouri State, 9-2. Junior midfielder Matt Bray registered a shot on goal with a header in the 17th minute, but the Bears were unable to get another shot off until the 44th minute of play.

Similar to the first half, Central Arkansas continued to put up shots and limit Missouri State offensively. In the first 20 minutes of the second period, UCA rattled off seven shots in-a-row before connecting on the eighth. Central Arkansas forward Daniel Sampedro sent a cross from the right side of the field to midfielder Manuel Montal for a header into the bottom left corner of the net. The eventual game-winner in the 67th minute marked Montal's fourth goal of the season. 

The Bears managed just two shots in the second half, both of which were off target. Overall, UCA outshot Missouri State 18-4 and limited the Bears to zero corner kicks on the afternoon. Riggs recorded five saves in the loss.

Up next for Missouri State is a road test against No. 19 SMU (8-3-2) on Sunday, October 21 at 7 p.m.

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