Demarzi Goal Gets Missouri State Past The Aces

The Missouri State men’s soccer team (9-3-2, 4-1-1) ran its win streak to four games with a 1-0 road shutout at Evansville (9-5-1, 3-3-1) tonight.

Senior Johannes Demarzi, this week’s Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week, got the Bears on the board in the 62nd minute with a goal off of a free kick. He drilled the ball from just outside the box into the upper left corner to beat the Aces’ keeper and put the Bears up 1-0. The goal was Demarzi’s third of the season, tying him for the team lead.

Six minutes later, Missouri State conceded five corners in a three and half minute span. But the Bears defense clamped down and did not allow a single shot off of the Evansville corners. With about 12 minutes to go, the Aces again put pressure on the Bears. After a few loose ball shot attempts, Justin Sass got a header past Alex Riggs, but Ryan Hennessy was there to clear the ball off the end line to preserve the lead.

Riggs made three saves to record the shutout. It is the seventh shutout of the season for Riggs and the 13th of his career, tying him for third all-time with current MLS keeper Matt Pickens. The Bears outshot Evansville, 13-11. Thomas Vania led Missouri State with four shots. Demarzi and Heath Melugin each added two shots.

“This was your typical hard-fought conference match,” said head coach Jon Leamy. “We battled all game and were able to get three points on the road tonight.”

Missouri State will return home Saturday to begin a three-game homestand against Bradley at 3:00 p.m.