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SPRINGFIELD – A late second-half goal brought the Missouri State men’s soccer team’s season to an end, here Thursday night, as the Bears fell 1-0 to the Creighton Bluejays in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The loss caps a season that saw MSU (17-2-0, 10-0-0 Missouri Valley Conference) go on a 15-game winning streak and earn its second-straight Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament championships. The Bears also went undefeated in conference play and earned their third-straight NCAA Tournament berth.
“That’s soccer sometimes,” said head coach Jon Leamy following the match. “And it doesn’t take away for one second what this group has accomplished this year, and for a good core of seniors, for what they’ve done for three years in a row. It’s been incredible.”
The match was a back-and-forth affair, as both sides traded shots, none finding the back of the net. Six minutes into the match, senior Josh Dolling’s first attempt of the night bounced off the top crossbar, narrowly missing the goal. The teams went into the locker rooms, knotted at zero, with Creighton leading in shots (5-4).
After halftime, Missouri State came out firing, pushing the offensive pace, and giving the Bluejays (9-7-2) everything they could handle. Both defenses continued to battle as well, thwarting each other’s shot attempts before either team could score.
In the 78th minute, the Bears’ consistently strong backline faltered, as Diego Gutierrez split his defenders, sinking the ball into the bottom right corner of the net. The goal gave the Bluejays the 1-0 lead.
In the final 13 minutes, MSU fired off four additional shots, but none came to fruition as time expired off the clock.
“We were pretty close to leveling up at the end there,” said Dolling. “It’s a tough one to take.”
The loss brings the Bears’ season to an end and head coach Jon Leamy‘s 30-year career to a close.
“This place is everything [to me],” said Leamy. “This is home. When we look back in time, the legacy of what they’ve accomplished, whether it’s win streaks, or total wins, it’s incredible. It’s an unbelievable group. We’re so proud to represent this university.”
Leamy’s final mark stands at 309-189-66, making six appearances in the NCAA Tournament. His teams won 10 regular-season MVC titles and three MVC tournament championships. He will retire as the conference’s winningest coach.
As the Bears head into the offseason, head coach designate Michael Seabolt will take over the programs’ reigns, after 15 years as an assistant for the Missouri State men’s soccer program. The change will go into effect on January 1.
