BOONE, N.C _ Since dropping their first ever Sun Belt Conference match to Appalachian State back in early October, losing 1-0, Central Arkansas men's soccer team has gone on to win four straight conference matches en route to a Sun Belt Conference regular season title and a number one seed in the conference tournament. 
 
The Bears (10-6-1, 4-1-0 Sun Belt) were rewarded with a first round bye in the tournament and will square off against number five seed Georgia State (11-4-3, 2-3-0 Sun Belt), who looked impressive in their tournament opener against number four seed Georgia Southern, cruising to a 4-0 win over their in-state foe. UCA and GSU met less than two weeks ago in a match where Central Arkansas came out victorious, winning 2-0 on goals from Niklas Brodacki and Soren Jensen. 

Scouting Georgia State

• Georgia State enters the match as the second leading goal scoring squad in the Sun Belt, netting 40 goals through 19 matches.
• Georgia State will be led by junior forward and Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year Aris Briggs, who is currently tied for third most goals scored in Division I with 16. Briggs was dominant in the first round match for the Panthers, where he scored twice in their 4-0 victory.
• The Panthers are sitting at No. 8 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Association Southeast Region Poll. 

Update on the Bears

• Central Arkansas leads the Sun Belt in goals scored, netting 42 goals through 17 matches played.
• Central Arkansas enters the match with an RPI ranking of 26, the highest in program history. 
• The Bears are also sitting with ten victories, another program best despite playing the fourth ranked toughest schedule in the country. 
• The Bears are led by senior striker and Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Niklas Brodacki, who is the NCAA Division I active leader in career goals scored with 50, including 11 this season. 
• Expect production from junior midfielder Soren Jensen, who is also having a fantastic season for the Bears, sitting with seven goals scored and adding eight assists for a total of 22 points. 

Ross Duncan Quotes

"It's an exciting time for us. Georgia State is a great opponent and that's what you want this time of year. They're well-coached, talented, committed, and know how to win games in the playoffs. Our group is ready. Getting here early was helpful because it allowed us to be really locked in on our preparation, but now we are ready to compete."
 
Keep Up With the Bears
You can follow the match via live stats or on ESPN plus. For live updates, follow the Bears on Twitter and Instagram @ucamenssoccer. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. (CT)