The Missouri State men’s soccer team (12-5-2) fell to Saint Louis University (15-6-0) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2-1. It was the second time in school history that the Billikens knocked the Bears out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round.
After a couple of fouls near midfield, Tim Ream would take a free kick from about 45 yards out that was headed in by James Dice, who beat Alex Riggs for a 1-0 Billikens lead. In the 17th minute, Missouri State defender Ryan Hennessy was called for a foul in the box after a battle with Stephen Bortolon. SLU’s leading scorer Mike Roach would take the penalty kick and convert to put the Billikens up 2-0.
The Bears would get on the board just five minutes into the second half. Jordan Hoffman stole the ball at the top of the box and feed it ahead to Heath Melugin. Melugin drilled a high shot off the bottom of the crossbar and in to cut the deficit to 2-1. The goal was Melugin’s sixth of the year.
The Bears outshot Saint Louis 22-5 in the match. Missouri State is now 0-3 in the NCAA Tournament (1997 at SLU, 0-2; 1999 at UAB, 1-2). Saint Louis improves to 9-0-3 all-time against the Bears and will travel to Tulsa for a Sunday afternoon match.
