CONWAY — Central Arkansas struck first, but a pair of second-half goals was enough to allow UMKC to escape Conway with a 2-1 victory on Saturday. 

After a scoreless first half, the Bears (1-4-0) took the lead in the 53rd minute when Ethan Miller played a ball to Daylon Schiffel, who struck it past UMKC keeper Kyle Martin for the score and his second goal of the season.

That would prove to be it for the Bears, who had a few near misses with three other shots on goal and another bounce off the crossbar.

UCA kept UMKC (2-4-0) off the board until the 61st minute, but the Kangaroos broke through on a Jimmy Simon goal to draw even. The game-winner came in the 81st when Chris Markey put one past UCA goalkeeper Amir Pasic on a free kick.

The result marks the third straight time in the series between the teams that a match has been decided by a single goal, with the Bears winning 2-1 in Conway in 2009 and UMKC winning 1-0 in Kansas City last season.

The Bears return to action next Saturday at San Diego State.