Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Belmont University men's soccer team succumbed to Missouri State Tuesday evening as the Bruins dropped a 1-0 decision to the Bears at the Plaster Sports Complex.
In the first half, Missouri State was the early aggressor as the Bears scored the lone goal of the match midway through the first half when MSU's Emmerich Hoegg scored off a deflection at the top of the box in order to give Missouri State a 1-0 advantage.
The Bears took the slim advantage over the Bruins into halftime.
"I felt we had a good bit of the ball in the first half, but we weren't as dangerous as we have been," Belmont head coach Earle Davidson said. "This is a tough place to play with a small field."
"Their goal came off of a deflection, which without the touch we likely woud've handled the shot," said Davidson.
The Bruins' offense picked up in the second half as Belmont used six corner kicks to help BU record five of its six total shots.
The late Bruin rally wasn't enough as Belmont (4-4-2) couldn't find the back of the nets as Missouri State (6-3-1) went on for the slim 1-0 victory.
"In the second half we made a few adjustments which I thought were very effective," said Davidson. "We played the majority of the second half in MSU's defensive half and put a great deal of pressure on them."
On the match, Belmont held a 6-5 advantage on corner kicks while Missouri State recorded a slight 9-6 advantage on shots.
"I felt we were a touch or a step away from getting the tying goal or more, but we couldn't quite get it as MSU defended well in their box to keep us out," Davidson continued.
Forward AJ Arnold (Jackson, Miss.) led Belmont offensively as the freshman recorded three shots for the Bruins on the evening.
BU goalkeeper Grayson Rector (Peachtree City, Ga.) recorded three saves on the contest.
Belmont will return to action this Saturday, Oct. 12, as the Bruins return to Rose Park for a noon match with Nebraska Omaha.
