Missouri State Bears soccer

Last updated
Missouri State Bears men's soccer
Missouri State Athletics wordmark.svg
Founded1981;44 years ago (1981)
University Missouri State University
Head coachMichael Seabolt
Conference The American
Location Springfield, Missouri
StadiumBetty & Bobby Allison South Stadium
(Capacity: 1,000 [1] )
Nickname Bears
ColorsMaroon and white [2]
   
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Home
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Away
NCAA Tournament Round of 16
2020
NCAA Tournament Round of 32
2019, 2020, 2024
NCAA Tournament appearances
1997, 1999, 2009, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference Tournament championships
1999, 2020, 2021, 2022
Conference Regular Season championships
1997, 1999, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021

The Missouri State Bears men's soccer team represent Missouri State University in NCAA Division I men's soccer. [3] As of the next NCAA soccer season in 2025, the Bears will compete in the American Athletic Conference (The American), after more than 30 years as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The team plays its home matches at Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium. They are currently coached by Michael Seabolt, who is entering his fourth season as head coach. Missouri State has made 9 NCAA tournament appearances, most recently in 2024. The Bears' overall record in the NCAA tournament is 3–9. They have won 12 conference regular-season titles and three conference tournaments. Missouri State has had 8 players selected in the MLS Draft.

Contents

History

Conference memberships

For the first seven years of the program's existence, it was an independent. They switched their conference affiliation for a year in 1989 to the Association of Mid-Continent Universities (now known as the Summit League). They switched back to being an independent for the 1990 season. From 1991 to 2024, the team was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. In May 2024, Missouri State announced it would move its athletic program to Conference USA, which sponsors soccer only for women, effective in July 2025. [4] In October 2024, the Bears were announced as a new men's soccer associate of The American, also effective in 2025. [5]

Prior to 2005, Missouri State was known as Southwest Missouri State.

†Founding member of the conference

Players

Currrent roster

As of January 7, 2024 [6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Harry Townsend
3 DF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Giacomo Sala
4 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Lewis Green
5 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Michael Peck
6 MF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Lorenzo Dentale
8 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Kian Yari
9 FW Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Jesus Barea
10 FW Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Nicolo Mulatero
11 FW Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Jon Koka
12 DF Flag of New Zealand.svg  NZL Matt Jones
13 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Elijah Zelkind
15 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Alex Matthews
16 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Sam Ottley
17 MF Flag of Norway.svg  NOR Daniel Normann
18 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Ollie Bate
20 FW Flag of Norway.svg  NOR Simon Bakken
21 FW Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL James Jennings
No.Pos.NationPlayer
22 FW Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Pablo Guillen
25 DF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Gianluca Fiorini
26 MF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Pascal Corvino
28 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Charlie Bell
— GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jonathan Kliewer
— GK Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Lorenzo Rovei
— DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Blake Bastian
— DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Mattis Koch
— DF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Mattia Petricca
— DF Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE Daniel Shabani
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Declan O'Hare
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Tyler Caton
— MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Joseph Ling
— MF Flag of New Zealand.svg  NZL Max Falconer
— MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Alan Rivera
— FW Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Marco Gueli

Facilities

Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium

Missouri State plays their home matches at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium. The on-campus, 1,500-seat stadium was built in the summer of 2014. The stadium has a combination of bleacher and chair-back seating. The stadium features a Sport Turf artificial turf playing surface. The stadium has locker rooms for both men's and women's soccer programs. It also has a press box and Daktronics LED premier video board. [7]

Championships

Conference championships

Regular season

Missouri State has won 12 regular-season conference championships in the team's history. They won back-to-back championships twice, in 2013–2014 and 2019–2022. In 2019 the Bears finished the regular season undefeated in both conference and non-conference play. Jon Leamy coached the team for its first 10 championships, with current coach Michael Seabolt on board for the two most recent championships.

SeasonConferenceCoachOverall RecordConference Record
1997 Missouri Valley Jon Leamy13-5-36–0–1
1999Missouri ValleyJon Leamy17-1-36–0-1
2009Missouri ValleyJon Leamy12-5–27-1–1
2011†Missouri ValleyJon Leamy9-8-25-1-0
2013Missouri ValleyJon Leamy11-5–25-1–0
2014Missouri valleyJon Leamy9-5–44–0-2
2017Missouri ValleyJon Leamy9-5-35-2-1
2019Missouri ValleyJon Leamy18–1-110–0-0
2020–21Missouri ValleyJon Leamy12-2-07-1-0
2021Missouri ValleyJon Leamy17-2-010-0-0
2022Missouri ValleyMichael Seabolt12-2-46-0-2
2024Missouri ValleyMichael Seabolt12-4-27-0-1
Total Conference Championships:12
† Denotes co-champions

NCAA tournament history

Missouri State has appeared in 9 NCAA tournaments, including each tournament since 2019, and has an overall record of 3–9. Missouri State won their first tournament game 2019 at home against Denver 1–0. This was the first time the program hosted a tournament game. Prior to 2005 Missouri State was known as Southwest Missouri State, making 2 appearances in 1997 and 1999. Jon Leamy coached the Bears in their first six tournament appearances, and current coach Michael Seabolt has led the Bears to three tournaments.

SeasonCoachRoundHostOpponentResult
1997 Jon Leamy First round Saint Louis Saint Louis L 2-1
1999Jon LeamyFirst round UAB UAB L 2-1
2009Jon LeamyFirst roundSaint LouisSaint LouisL 2-1
2019Jon LeamyFirst round
Round of 32		Missouri State
UCF 		Denver
UCF 		W 1-0
L 2-1 (OT)
2020–21Jon LeamyRound of 32
Round of 16		 UNCW
Cary, NC 		Maryland
Washington 		W 2-1
L 2-0 (OT)
2021Jon LeamyFirst roundMissouri State Creighton L 1-0
2022Michael SeaboltFirst round Creighton Creighton L 2-1
2023Michael SeaboltFirst round
Round of 32		Missouri State
Stanford 		Omaha
Stanford 		W 1-0
L 3-1
2024Michael SeaboltSecond roundMissouri State Kansas City L 2-1

Last updated: January 6, 2025.
Source: NCAA Soccer

Yearly results

Missouri State's first season was in 1981 where they went 4-6-1 under head coach Frank Dinka. From the inaugural season in 1981 to the end of the 2004 season Missouri State was known as Southwest Missouri State. The school changed their name to Missouri State in 2005 and since then has been known as Missouri State. The Bears were an independent until 1988 when they joined what is now the Summit League for a year. After a lone season as an independent again, Missouri State joined the Missouri Valley Conference. They remained members of the MVC through the 2024 season, after which they will join the American Athletic Conference. They made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1997 when they lost to Saint Louis University in the first round 2–1. The Bears have appeared 3 more times since then, most recently in 2019 where they reached the round of 32. 2019 was also Missouri State's most successful season as they went 18-1-1 and went an undefeated 10-0-0 in conference play and 16-0-0 during the regular season.

Statistics overview
SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Southwest Missouri State Bears (Independent [8] )(1981–1988)
1981Frank Dinka 4–6–1
1982Frank Dinka 5–10–2
1983Frank Dinka 3–12–1
1984Frank Dinka 6–11–0
1985Frank Dinka 7–10–2
1986Frank Dinka 8–11–0
1987Jan Stahle 9–10–1
1988Jan Stahle 9–12–1
Southwest Missouri State Bears (AMCU [9] )(1989–only)
1989Jan Stahle 14–8–33–3–04th
Southwest Missouri State Bears (Independent [8] )(1990–only)
1990 Tom Howe 8–8–1
Southwest Missouri State Bears (Missouri Valley Conference [10] [11] )(1991–2004)
1991Tom Howe 9–10–01–2–0t-4th
1992Jon Leamy 4–15–00–5–06th
1993Jon Leamy 9–9–01–4–05th
1994Jon Leamy 12–5–11–4–16th
1995Jon Leamy 14–5–02–3–04th
1996Jon Leamy 12–6–03–2–03rd
1997Jon Leamy 13–5–36–0–11st NCAA 1st round
1998Jon Leamy 13–7–13–3–1t-4th
1999Jon Leamy 17–1–35–0–21st NCAA 1st round
2000Jon Leamy 10–7–24–5–28th
2001Jon Leamy 10–9–17–2–02nd
2002Jon Leamy 9–11–06–3–03rd
2003Jon Leamy 9–7–33–5–18th
2004Jon Leamy 11–6–24–4–1t-5th
Missouri State Bears (Missouri Valley Conference [10] [11] )(2005–2024)
2005Jon Leamy 12–4–24–3–05th
2006Jon Leamy 8–8–33–2–13rd
2007Jon Leamy 6–10–41–3–26th
2008Jon Leamy 7–10–53–1–13rd
2009Jon Leamy 12–5–27–1–11st NCAA 1st round
2010Jon Leamy 8–7–34–1–2t-2nd
2011Jon Leamy 9–8–25–1–0t-1st
2012Jon Leamy 5–8–40–6–07th
2013Jon Leamy 11–5–25–1–01st
2014Jon Leamy 9–5–44–0–21st
2015Jon Leamy 6–6–53–2–14th of 7
2016Jon Leamy 9–8–23–4–15th of 7
2017Jon Leamy 9–5–35–2–11st
2018Jon Leamy 9–2–62–2–24th of 7
2019 Jon Leamy 18–1–110–0–01st NCAA Round of 32
2020–21Jon Leamy 12–2–07–1–01st NCAA Round of 16
2021Jon Leamy 17–2–010–0–01st NCAA 1st round
2022Michael Seabolt 12–2–46–0–21st NCAA 1st round
2023Michael Seabolt 12–4–36–1–12nd NCAA Round of 32
2024Michael Seabolt 12–4–27–0–11st NCAA Round of 32
Missouri State Bears (American Athletic Conference)(2025–present)
2025Michael Seabolt
MVC:330–261–64131–65–23
Total:403–360–72

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

MLS Draft History

Missouri State has had several alumni drafted by Major League Soccer clubs in the various MLS drafts.

MLS College Draft

Missouri State has had 1 player drafted in the MLS College Draft. Matt Caution was drafted in the third round of the 1998 Draft by the Dallas Burn, now known as FC Dallas.

PlayerPositionYearDraft RoundTeam
Matt Caution FW 19983 Dallas Burn

Note: The MLS College Draft was held from 1996 to 1999.

Last updated: August 21, 2020.
Source: Soccer America

MLS Supplemental Draft

Missouri State has had 2 players drafted in the MLS Supplemental Draft. Doug Lascody was drafted in the third round of the 2005 Draft by the Kansas City Wizards, now known as Sporting Kansas City. Justin Douglass was drafted in the fourth round of the 2007 Draft by the Houston Dynamo.

PlayerPositionYearDraft RoundTeam
Doug Lascody MF 20053 Kansas City Wizards
Justin Douglass DF 20074 Houston Dynamo

Note: The MLS Supplemental Draft has been held off and on since 1996. The last draft to have taken place was in 2013.

Last updated: August 21, 2020.
Source: Major League Soccer

MLS SuperDraft

Missouri State has had 4 players drafted in the MLS SuperDraft. Chris Brunt was drafted in the third round of the 2002 draft by the then-Kansas City Wizards. Missouri State had two players selected in the 2004 Draft;Matt Pickens in the second round with the Chicago Fire and Jamal Sutton in the fourth round with the Columbus Crew. Matthew Bentley was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 draft by Minnesota United FC

PlayerPositionYearDraft RoundTeam
Chris Brunt DF 20023 Kansas City Wizards
Matt Pickens GK 20042 Chicago Fire
Jamal Sutton FW 20044 Columbus Crew
Matthew Bentley FW20204 Minnesota United FC

Last updated: August 21, 2020.
Source: Major League Soccer

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References

  1. ↑ "Betty and Bobby Allison South".
  2. ↑ "Colors - Identity Standards - Missouri State University". February 5, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Missouri State Official Athletic Site". missouristatebears.com.
  4. ↑ "CUSA Adds Missouri State" (Press release). Conference USA. May 10, 2024. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  5. ↑ "American Athletic Conference Adds Missouri State University as Affiliate Member in Men's Soccer" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. October 25, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  6. ↑ "2023 Men's Soccer Roster". missouristatebears.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Betty and Bobby Allison South".
  8. 1 2 "2012 Missouri State Men's Soccer Guide". missouristatebears.com.
  9. ↑ "The Summit League" (PDF). thesummitleague.org.
  10. 1 2 http://www.mvc.org/records/msoccer.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  11. 1 2 Streamline Technologies – Nashville, TN. "Men's Soccer – Official Site of the Missouri Valley Conference". Missouri Valley Conference. Archived from the original on 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
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