Box Score

Edwardsville, Ill. — Two goals in each half was plenty to propel SIU Edwardsville past Central Arkansas on Wednesday as the Cougars cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Bears in Missouri Valley Conference soccer play.

SIUE (8-5-1, 3-1 MVC) jumped ahead early, getting a goal from Brian Groark in the 8th minute from 10 yards out after the ball had deflected off a UCA defender. The Cougars stretched their lead to two in the 34th minute on Chris Anzalone's fourth goal of the season.

UCA (3-10, 0-4) cut its deficit in half less than two minutes into the second half as Wynne Mason struck from 30 yards out on the right side for his third goal of the season. Alex Parker picked up his team-leading third assist of the season on the score.

The Bears were unable to pull even, and in the 65th minute the Cougars extended the lead back out to two on Anzalone's second goal of the match. Mike Jones added one more for SIUE two minutes later on a header off a free kick from Benny Jeffery.

SIUE finished the match with 12 shots including eight on goal. UCA was limited to two shots on goal and took eight shots in all.

It was the fourth straight loss for the Bears, tying their longest streak of the season. The last time UCA dropped four in a row, the Bears answered with consecutive wins.

The Bears' first chance to start a similar turnaround will be this Saturday in the final home game of the season for UCA when the Bears host No. 10 Creighton at 2 p.m.