The 19th-ranked Missouri State men’s soccer team (12-3-2, 7-1-1) will face the Evansville Purple Aces (11-7-1,5-4-1) in the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament on Friday, November 13. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines, Iowa. With a win over Evansville, the Bears will advance to the championship match to face the winner of Friday’s Creighton-Drake semifinal.
Missouri State defeated Evansville, 1-0, in both matches this season. Johannes Demarzi scored an unassisted goal in the match at Evansville. He assisted on Jordan Hoffman’s goal in the Bears’ victory at Plaster Field.
Missouri State went undefeated in the matches against its prospective championship opponents as well. The Bears downed Drake, 2-1, in Des Moines, on goals by Johannes Demarzi and Ryan Hennessy. Missouri State defeated the
Bulldogs 3-2, in overtime, in Springfield with Edin Sabic, Ben Griffiths and Gerard Barbero each scoring a goal.
The Bears own a 10-7-3 record all-time against the Purple Aces. Missouri State holds a three game shutout streak over Evansville with two 1-0 wins this season and a 2-0 shutout in 2008. The last time the teams matched up in the MVC Tournament, the Purple Aces won on penalty kicks, 4-3, in 2007. With the Bears’ two victories this season, the series history with the Bulldogs is all square at 10-10-3. Missouri State defeated Drake in the semifinal round of the 2008 MVC Tournament on penalties, 4-1.