MVC Women’s Soccer: Bears Season Ends With OT Loss

Missouri State Bears – 1
Creighton Blue Jays -2 (OT)
The Missouri State women’s soccer team (9-6-3) dropped a heartbreaker in overtime, 2-1, to the host Creighton Bluejays (13-5-2) in the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament on Friday night in Omaha, Neb.

The Bears got early pressure on the Bluejays as a cross by Jenna Dobkins found Becky Handley in the box. Handley’s shot just grazed the outside of the post and the teams remained scoreless just three minutes into the match.

Despite the early pressure by the Bears, Creighton was able to get on the board first. Mary Zapapas got a ball through to Beth Fyles, who delayed up the middle until her teammates were on side and was able to get a low drive past Jessica Teahan.

The teams went to halftime with four shots a side. Samantha Aguilar had the lone shot on net for Missouri State on a header off of the Bears’ only corner kick of the half. Handley added two first half shots to lead the Bears.

The Bears would not let up. Outshooting Creighton 11-2 in the second half, Samantha Aguilar drilled a ball off of the crossbar with just over seven minutes remaining. The ball caromed back past Creighton keeper Alicia Montgomery to a wide open Dobkins who buried the ball to tie the match.

Missouri State would keep up the pressure after the tying goal. With just over two minutes remaining in regulation, Dobkins got free behind the Creighton defense. She was able to head the ball over Montgomery, but the ball trickled just wide of an open net.

After recording 18 shots in regulation, the Bears were unable to generate any offense in the first overtime period. Creighton would get four shots off in overtime with the fourth finding the back of the net to end the Bears’ season. Laura Nasseri was able to drive a low ball past Teahan to the far post to lift the Bluejays to victory just seven and a half minutes into overtime.

“We battled all game against a good Creighton team tonight,” said head coach Rob Brewer. “I am proud of the way our team responded after going down a goal early.”

Missouri State ends its season with nine wins, one shy of last season’s total. Seniors Aguilar and Dobkins lead the in goals with five and four, respectively. Goalkeeper Teahan recorded seven shutouts and finished with a 0.86 goals against average, the third-best season totals in school history.

Illinois State Redbirds – 1
Drake Bulldogs – 0

The winners will face each other Sunday at 1:00 pm. The game can be seen live on Mediacom Channel 22 in Springfield.

*The title match will be shown live at 1 p.m. on Fox Sports Midwest in the state of Illinois, Fox Sports Indiana, Fox College Sports, Comcast SportsNet Chicago and Metro Sports – the league’s production company which is based in Kansas City, Mo. The match will also be seen live on alternate cable system channels on Cox Media (channel 22 in Omaha, Neb.), Mediacom (channel 22 in Des Moines, Iowa and channel 22 in Springfield, Mo.) and Charter Media (Channel 8 in St. Louis, Mo.).