Week two of MVC action is done and dusted, time to recap a week where
Missouri State manages second-half comeback:
Missouri State (5-2-0, 2-0-0) traveled to the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) (4-4-0, 0-1-0) on Saturday in their first conference road match of the season. Only two minutes into the match, a penalty kick goal by UIC redshirt senior defender Jesus De Vicente set the Flames ahead. UIC would hold their lead going into the break, but Missouri State would earn a penalty kick of their own, buried by senior forward Fumiya Shiraishi in the 46’.
“I’m so happy for Fumi,” said Missouri State head coach Michael Seabolt. “I know he’s had some chances in some other games. He took his chance well tonight. We needed him to be big in that moment and he nailed it.”
This goal kickstarted the Bears’ attack, and they converted again in the 82’ and 88’ to seal a thrilling comeback victory.
“That’s a very good team, one of, if not, the best we’ve seen all year,” Seabolt said of UIC. “The league is super strong this year.”
Senior forward Jesus Barea is credited with Missouri’s third goal of the night, putting him back on the goal-scoring train after being unable to find the back of the net in their last competition. Barea is tied for second nationally in total goals (nine) and remains in first place for shots on goal per game (four). Missouri State now holds a four-game winning streak following the victory.
Northern Illinois trounced by non-conference rival:
Northern Illinois (2-6-0, 0-1-0), faced a slate of non-conference opponents this week, taking on Mercyhurst and Western Illinois. Junior forward Taylor Davis scored 26 seconds into the match against Mercyhurst, which finalized the scoring for both sides.
This victory ended Mercyhurst’s three-game winning streak as well as the Huskies’ own four-game losing streak. Northern Illinois didn’t spend much time in the win column, suffering a 0-4 annihilation by in-state rival, Western Illinois. Although both teams managed seven shots on goal throughout the 90 minutes, the Huskies were unable to find the back of the net.
“In the second half, we controlled a large portion of the game, the first 25-30 minutes of the half, but didn’t score,” reflected NIU head coach Ryan Swan. “There were a number of self-inflicted wounds, and we are obviously bitterly disappointed.”
Terry brace hands Bradley fourth-consecutive loss:
Bradley extended their losing streak by two games this week, facing losses in and out of MVC play. After dropping a non-conference match to SIUE, 0-2, Bradley took on No. 24 Bowling Green in both teams’ second conference game.
Scoring opened in the 22’, with a goal from Bowling Green junior forward Trace Terry. Only eight minutes later, Bradley junior midfielder Claudel Ngongang was awarded a red card, giving Bowling Green a man-up advantage.
Even with 10 men, the Braves managed an equalizer early in the second half, a penalty kick by senior forward Kevin Mejias.
The scoreline remained level until the 86’ when Terry netted his second goal of the game and secured the victory for the Falcons.
This marks Trace Terry’s third brace of his career and propels him into second place in the MVC for goals (six), below Missouri State’s Jesus Barea. With this result, the Falcons extended their unbeaten streak to four games, while the Braves have four consecutive losses.
No. 9 Western Michigan extends unbeaten streak to 30:
No. 9 Western Michigan (6-0-3, 1-0-1) extended their unbeaten streak to 30 games this week, following matchups with Dayton and MVC opponent, Evansville (4-4-1, 0-2-0).
After earning a 1-1 draw with Dayton, last year’s Atlantic-10 conference champion, the Broncos hosted Evansville in their second conference matchup. Western Michigan redshirt junior forward Roni Sylejmani scored first in the 21’, and junior midfielder Carson Hodgson doubled the Broncos lead in the 58’. Evansville found a goal of their own in the 62’ by freshman defender Martin Wurschmidt, but scoring would end there, securing the 2-1 win for the Broncos.
Western Michigan leads the conference in total goals (20) and goals allowed (seven) and awaits their first loss of the season. Following No. 12 Hofstra’s loss last week, the Broncos are now the only team that reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2023 that remains unbeaten.
Drake dominates Belmont in fourth season shutout:
Drake (6-2-1, 2-0-0) hosted Belmont (2-3-3, 0-1-1) on Sunday in a showdown between two Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) players of the week; AJ Chastonay for the Bruins and Tomas Butkovic for the Bulldogs.
Drake put together a full team performance, finding four goals and a shutout against the Bruins. Drake now totals four shutout wins, conceding zero goals at home all season. The Bulldogs also tied 1-1 with Omaha this week and lead a six-game unbeaten streak.
