CONWAY, Ark. - The Central Arkansas Men's Soccer Team hosted the Bears of Missouri State on Saturday, April 3. The match ended with Missouri State taking home a win 2-1. 

FIRST HALF - POWERFUL HEADERS & DOMINANT PLAY

UCA started playing the better of the two teams when Edoardo Calzola and Illya Busaev both beat Missouri State defenders and took chances, but were just unlucky in the first and second minutes. UCA took the lead in the ninth minute when Bradyn Knutson sent one of his strong throw-ins to the near post. Ole Kjoerholt met the ball with his head and flicked it to the back-post, beating the goalkeeper.

The Bears kept Missouri State from putting a shot on target during the entire first 45 minutes. 

SECOND HALF - UNFORTUNATE PLAYS & FALLING JUST SHORT

Missouri State came out of the gate in the second half pushing to find an equalizer. In the 54th minute, Missouri State found the breakthrough, leveling the score at one apiece. Missouri State took the lead just ten minutes later after hitting a free-kick off the crossbar and finishing the rebound.

Alberto Suarez had two late chances late in the match, but just missed his headers wide right and then just barely over the crossbar. The Bears were unable to find an equalizer as Missouri State won 2-1.

HEAR FROM THE COACH

"We have one or two guys who graduated, but they have the chance to come back next year. I would love to keep them. But we have nearly an entire starting team coming back and adding a few guys with our new class. I'm really proud of how we played this Spring, we made a ton of progress, changed our system and our entire program. We changed how we compete, how we work for each other, and how we impose against our opponents. I feel like every single game, we should that we deserve to be among the best teams in the country," said Head Coach Ross Duncan.

HEAR FROM THE PLAYERS

"I think this Spring we made a lot of improvements even when we didn't get all the results we wanted. If we work hard this summer, then come this fall I believe we can do great things in the conference and in the national championships," said Alberto Suarez, the Captain of the side.

The Bears season has wrapped up but will return in the fall.