MSU Women’s Soccer Finalizes 2022 Schedule

SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State women’s soccer team will play an 18-match regular season schedule highlighted by 10 home contests and a matchup with 2021 NCAA tournament participant Saint Louis, head coach Kirk Nelson announced today.
 
Before kicking off the regular season, the Bears will square off in exhibition matches at Kansas State (Aug. 6) before hosting Missouri Southern (Aug. 13).
 
“I am very pleased with how this schedule came together,” Nelson said. “We have a nice mix of non-conference teams we typically play each year and some new ones.  The schedule is strong and will provide us with weekly opportunities to compete at a high level, starting just a few days into the preseason.  Also, our conference has added three new members, which will add to the excitement this fall.  We can’t wait to play in front of our home crowd at the amazing Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium.”
 
MSU opens up the Kirk Nelson era at home when they take on Central Arkansas at 6 p.m. on August 18. It will be the first time the Bears open the season at Allison South Stadium since 2018.
 
The Bears then travel to Stillwater, Okla., to face the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (Aug. 21). After traveling to Stillwater, Missouri State has a three-game homestand with matches against SEMO (Aug. 25), Tulsa (Aug. 28) and Saint Louis (Sept. 1). Saint Louis is coming off a 13-9-1 campaign last season that ended in an A-10 Championship and second-round loss to Ole Miss in the NCAA tournament. The Bears and Billikens battled to a scoreless draw their last time out on Sept. 9 of last season.
 
The Bears depart once again to face Oral Roberts (Sept. 4) and Arkansas State (Sept. 8). MSU wraps up its non-conference slate by hosting Kansas City on Sept. 11. A matchup with Evansville (Sept. 18) at Allison South Stadium will open MVC play. Missouri State will then hit the road with matches at Drake (Sept. 22), Northern Iowa (Sept. 25) and Southern Illinois (Sept. 29).
 
Nelson’s squad returns home from Carbondale on Oct. 2 to face Valparaiso before taking on Murray State on Oct. 6. The Bears then travel to Nashville, for a contest with the Bruins of Belmont (Oct. 9).
 
A two-game homestand with matches against Indiana State (Oct. 13) and UIC (Oct. 16) close out the home slate. Missouri State concludes the regular season at Illinois State on Oct. 23.
 
Nelson begins his first season at the helm, taking over the post after Rob Brewer retired after the 2021 season. Nelson served as the associate head coach under Brewer for the eight previous seasons.