Men’s Soccer Hosts Kansas City in Middle of Homestand

SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State men’s soccer (1-1) looks to build a winning streak following its 3-0 win over Pacific with another Monday showdown against the Kansas City Roos (1-1-1) at Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. CT. Admission is free for all attendees. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

On the Pitch

• Missouri State is coming off back-to-back 12-win seasons under head coach Michael Seabolt, who is in his third season at the helm of the program. MoState has won at least 12 games each season since 2019.

• Since the beginning of the 2019 season, Missouri State men’s soccer holds the best DI overall record of 72-12-8 (.826), best conference record of 39-2-3 (.920) and second-best home record of 41-5-4 (.860). The Bears were tied for the 18th-best win percentage in 2023 (.711).

• MSU has made five straight NCAA appearances, joining Kentucky, Indiana, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, New Hampshire, Georgetown, Marshall and Clemson as the only nine DI teams in the nation to make every tournament since 2019.

• Following their season-opening loss at UC Santa Barbara, the Bears won their home opener against Pacific in a 3-0 shutout. The win marked head coach Michael Seabolt’s 25th as Missouri State head coach and 55th of his DI career.

• Senior forward Jesus Barea scored two goals against Pacific, accounting for three of Missouri State’s four goals this season. He also notched an assist on MoState’s first goal against Pacific scored by senior defender Michael Peck.

• Barea sits tied for eighth in Missouri State career history in goals (22), eighth in points (16) and fourth in shots (190).

• Barea is one of 10 Division I players to score at least three goals in their first two games this season. With every MVC team at the two-game mark, Barea leads The Valley in shots (10), points (7), and is tied with Evansville’s Nacho Diaz Barragan in goals (3). Barea is also second in shots on goal (6).

• Senior goalkeeper Harry Townsend earned his first shutout of the season last Monday. The All-West Region player’s 24 career shutouts are the second most among active DI players behind Duke goalkeeper Wessel Speel’s 25. Townsend surpassed Alex Riggs for fourth in shutouts in program history, three shy of Michael Creek’s record of 27 clean sheets.

• Missouri State hired former All-American midfielder Kian Yari to the coaching staff in May following a stellar five-year career with the Bears that saw three straight MVC Tournament titles (2020-22) and four straight MVC regular season titles (2019-22). Yari was a 2021 United Soccer Coaches All-American, 2021 and 2022 CSC Academic All-American and the 2021 MVC Midfielder of the Year. He ended his career third all-time in assists as a Bear with 22, including four in 2023.

• Last season, the Bears were fourth in the nation in shot accuracy with 124 of 240 shots being on goal (.517). Missouri State starts 2024 on a similar trajectory with 13 of 25 shots being on goal in its first two matches (.520).

• Missouri State played a clean brand of soccer in 2023. The Bears were sixth in the nation in fewest fouls per game (8.89), only behind Boston College (8.12), fellow MVC opponent Belmont (8.56), Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and St. Bonaventure (8.71). The Bears only committed four fouls against UCSB on Thursday. No team had fewer in their opener.

• Since 2019, Missouri State is 52-0-0 when scoring two or more goals. The last time the Bears scored two goals and did not win was Nov. 9, 2018, in the MVC semifinals vs. Central Arkansas when Missouri State lost in penalty kicks.

Series History vs. Kansas City

• The Missouri State Bears and Kansas City Roos go head-to-head for the 31st time and the 17th time in Springfield. The Bears lead the all-time series 24-4-2 and hold a home record of 14-1-1 against the Roos.

• MoState won the first matchup on Sept. 11, 1987 by a score of 7-1 at home. The Bears won the first five meetings before the Roos earned their first win on Oct. 30, 1993 at home. Missouri State has won nine of the last 11 matches against Kansas City with the other two matches being draws in 2014 (0-0) and 2015 (2-2).

• The two teams played at Durwood Soccer Stadium last season on Aug. 31, 2023 with the Bears coming up victorious, 1-0. Former Bears All-American midfielder Jack Denton scored in the 52nd minute to secure the win. Missouri State outshot Kansas City, 10-3, and prevented the Roos from attempting a shot on goal.

Scouting the Roos

• The Missouri State Bears host the Kansas City Roos in what will be each team’s first match against a non-California school. The Roos enter Springfield 1-1-1 with the one win coming against Saint Mary’s

• Each team’s one loss this season came at the hands of UC Santa Barbara. Kansas City fell to the No. 24 Gauchos, 3-0, at home on Thursday. UCSB’s Alexis Ledoux scored his third goal of the season. All three of his goals have come against the Bears and the Roos.

• Kansas City fired 21 shots, including 15 in the second half on Thursday, but only two were on goal. Across three matches, the Roos lead the Summit League averaging 12.67 shots per game. They have taken 38 shots and allowed 38 shots this year. Eight of Kansas City’s shots have been on goal, while opponents have lined up 17 shots on target.

• Junior forward Elie Kisoka has scored two of the team’s three goals this season. The Marseille, France native scored in each of his first two matches with the team against St. Mary’s and San Francisco. He was named co-Summit League Peak Performer of the Week on Aug. 26.

• Senior goalkeeper Brandon McGaugh has been at net for Kansas City for all 270 minutes this season. The transfer from Johnson County CC has 12 saves on five goals allowed. He faced 15 shots against both San Francisco and UC Santa Barbara.