SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State men’s soccer team suffered its first loss of the season Tuesday night, falling to Tulsa, 3-0, to conclude the team’s non-conference slate.
“Tulsa is a good team, and to beat good teams you have to score goals and we didn’t score today,” said head coach Michael Seabolt. “We’ll get to work and we’re going to score goals on Saturday.”
The first half was an evenly matched affair with both teams coming out aggressively on their offensive attacks. In the 11th minute, Tulsa’s Malik Henry-Scott penetrated the Bears’ back line, firing a shot past the head of goalkeeper Harry Townsend to give the Golden Hurricane the early lead.
Under 10 minutes later, MSU got its chance, drawing a foul inside the box and earning a penalty kick in the 20th minute. Nicolo Mulatero’s shot was sniffed out, though, as Tulsa’s goalkeeper made a diving save to keep the score in favor of the visiting team.
The second half was more of the same, with both teams pressing hard in the opening possessions. The Bears fired off four shots through the first 25 minutes but could not get one past the stout Tulsa keeper.
In the 79th minute, the Golden Hurricane struck again, increasing their lead to 2-0. The Bears got off two more shots in the final minutes, but Tulsa iced the match with a final score at the 89-minute mark. MSU outshot the Golden Hurricane, 13-12, but ultimately fell, 3-0.
The loss moves the Bears to 4-1-2 on the season and is the team’s first regular-season loss since falling to Tulsa on Sept. 3, 2021.
MSU finishes out the last of its eight-match home stand when the Bears host Evansville to begin conference play on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.
