Missouri State Edges Mizzou in Fall Opener
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- In their first fall scrimmage of the 2014-2015 season, Missouri State played the University of Missouri Tigers. The game was also the first for the Bears on their new home turf at Betty and Bobby Allison North Stadium. After a slow start, the Bears scored half their goals in the fourth quarter and netted the winning goal in the second overtime period.
The Bears took the field noticeably outnumbered - fielding only 15 players. Freshman midfielder Cooper Kelley was out with a broken hand. The Tigers were able to get the first goal of the game 5 minutes in. At the end of the first, Missouri held a 1-0 lead.
The second quarter saw the Tigers netting two more goals to take a 3-0 lead. After losing another player, Sophomore Austin Todd, to a broken hand, Freshman Nick Eckart scored Missouri State's first goal of the game with a left-handed rip from the left wing. At halftime, the Tigers led 3-1.
The halftime talk for Missouri State centered around tempo and conditioning. Head Coach Dustin Rich and Offensive Coordinator Cam Bostwick stressed tempo and hustle.
Early in the third quarter, the Tigers scored once more to increase their lead to 4-1. Missouri State answered back with 2:40 left in the quarter with a shot from Sophomore transfer Thomas East (Palm Beach Atlantic). The Tigers would not be outdone, as they scored their fifth goal with seconds left in the third. Missouri State trailed 5-2 going into the final 15 minutes of play.
3 minutes in to the fourth, East scored again cutting the Tiger lead to 5-3. The Bears defense held strong as Junior goalie Mason Goodwin made 5 saves in the quarter. Missouri State scored with 6:53 left to cut the Tiger lead to 5-4. The Bears continued to let the conditioning do the work as Junior transfer Matt Hanes (Lee's McRae College) scored on a breakaway to tie the game at 5. Missouri State's defense finished the fourth quarter shutout of the Tigers and at the end of regulation, the score was tied at 5.
After the first overtime period, Junior midfielder Zack Sutter found time and room as he rolled back from a dodge and shot low to high to send the game winning goal past the Tiger goalie. Missouri State won the game 6-5.
Statistical leaders on the day were: Sutter (2g 1a), East (2g) and Eckart (1g 1a). Goalie Mason Goodwin made 20 saves on 25 shots on goal (80%) and Face-off specialist Zack Sutter won 13/16 face-offs (81%). Missouri State had 30 shots in the game and won 49 ground balls.
Missouri State plays Washington University (MO) on October 25 in Springfield.