The 22nd-ranked Missouri State men's soccer team (12-3-2, 7-1-1)
clinched the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title with its 1-0 win
over Evansville (10-7-1, 4-4-1) at Plaster Field this afternoon. It is the third regular season title for the
Bears, having won it in 1999 and 1997. The
win is the Bears seventh straight, the longest winning streak since 2004.
Sophomore Jordan Hoffman tallied his third goal of the
season on a header in the 82nd minute to put the Bears ahead. Johannes Demarzi registered his
conference-leading 10th assist of the season as his corner kick found Hoffman
open on the back post. Only three other
players in the nation have more assists than Demarzi.
Hoffman's goal was one of the Bears' seven shots in the match. David Buckenheimer and Edin Sabic each
tallied two shots to lead Missouri State in the category.
Bears' keeper Alex Riggs had to make one save to preserve
the shutout. Riggs now has eight
shutouts this season, the second highest season total in school history.
"It was great winning the conference championship at home
today," said head coach Jon Leamy. "Our
kids have battled all season. It was
another great conference match and the guys continued to work hard out there."
Missouri State will travel to Charleston, Ill., to play
Eastern Illinois on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in the regular season finale. The Bears will then play in the semifinals of
the MVC Tournament next Friday, November 13, in Des Moines, Iowa. The Bears opponent and match time for the
tournament are yet to be determined.