SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Finally getting to play against a real opponent, the Central Arkansas women's soccer team showed some early flashes of potential, as well as some moments of early season nerves, in a scoreless draw against Missouri State Thursday afternoon. Despite both teams having prime opportunities, neither side was able to break the stalemate.
 
Both Bear squads traded corner kicks through the first ten minutes of the opening match of 2022, but each opportunity ended without much threat. Missouri State finally took the first shot of the match in the 14^th minute, but it sailed to the right of the goal. Later in the half, Lea Duus Madsen took Central Arkansas' first shot, but it also sailed right.
 
The momentum started shifting toward the home team midway through the first half, as the hosting Bears seemingly changed gears, winning 50/50 balls and making runs into the heart of the Central Arkansas defense. Goalkeeper Kajsa Pruner and the defense held firm, however, keeping Missouri State out of the net with timely saves. Pruner, who played the entire first half before being subbed out at the break, recorded a career-best five saves in the opening frame. On a Missouri State corner kick , Pruner and Sydney Brough combined for a pair of shoe-string saves, each one battling to the last blade of painted grass of the goal-line to hold off the Bears' attack.
 
Missouri State stayed on the gas through the bulk of the first, peppering the Central Arkansas defense and testing the will and composure of the Bears' defense. And though it bent, the visiting Bears stayed strong and collected, doing just enough to maintain clean sheet through the first 45.
 
Although the second half didn't have quite the number of shots as the first, the momentum largely stayed with Missouri State. As soon as Central Arkansas started to make a drive, or make a good defensive push, the home team would find the ball back at its feet, looking to make another play. But the resilience of Central Arkansas showed, as the effort never wavered regardless of the flow of the game.
 
The Bears from Conway found a few opportunities late in the second half, led by a pair of freshmen earning their first playing time. Receiving a free kick just beyond the 18-yard box in the 77^th minute, Maria Vanegas lined up a shot that went just over the crossbar, but her shot represented one of the few serious chances of the night for Central Arkansas. In the 84^th minute, Tristyn Pavatt made a terrific run after receiving a ball inside the box, slicing a shot across the face of the goal that skirted a few inches outside of the post. Pavatt would have another chance minutes later, crossing another ball across the box, but without a recipient, posing the last real threat of the match. Under the NCAA's new regular season rules, the match ended after the 90 minute draw.
 
In all, Central Arkansas' first-years logged 269 minutes, with Nina Mazzola, Rylee Ellis and Madsen drawing starts for their Purple and Gray debuts.
 
Next up for the Bears is a cross-state match against Arkansas State on Sunday. Kickoff against the Red Wolves is slated for 4 p.m. in Jonesboro.