Missouri State men defeat Denver

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Sophomore David Buckenheimer scored in the 73rd minute to lift the Bears to a 1-0 non-conference win at Plaster Field today.  Missouri State (5-2-1, 1-0-0) and visiting Denver (3-3-2) battled through torrential rains early in the second half before the Bears prevailed.
                                        
Buckenheimer scored his second goal of the season off the Bears only corner kick of the match.  Senior Johannes Demarzi took the corner and found Paul Paradise on the back post.  Paradise headed the ball back into the middle of the box and Buckenheimer struck the ball squarely with his right foot to drive the ball into the lower left corner of the net.  Demarzi’s assist was his team-leading sixth of the season and a career high for a season.

The Bears’ offensive attack was well distributed in the match.  Buckenheimer, Paradise, Demarzi, Eric Martin and Kyle Windmueller each had a team high two shots in the match.  Missouri State mustered 13 shots in total on the day.

Missouri State goalkeeper Alex Riggs made three saves for the shutout.  The shutout was Riggs’ fourth of the season and tenth of his career.

“Both teams played well given the second half conditions today,” said head coach Jon Leamy.  “We got one goal and the win and now we jump back into conference play.”

Missouri State will continue the homestand hosting Eastern Illinois on Sunday, October 4 at 1:00 p.m. and Creighton, next Wednesday, October 7 at 4:00 p.m. to open the home portion of conference play.  The Bears beat the Panthers twice last season including a 4-1 win in the MVC Tournament quarterfinals.  Missouri State beat Creighton earlier this season in Omaha, 1-0.