High Point

Next Game:

at High Point

9/14/2025 | 6 P.M.


Sep. 14 (Sun) / 6 P.M.


at High Point

History

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Central Arkansas men’s soccer team played to a scoreless draw in Springfield, battling the Missouri State Bears for 90 minutes without a score on Sunday.
 
Playing one of the best offenses in the country, defense was always going to be paramount for the Bears. In response, Central Arkansas shifted to almost a six-back, walling off the nation’s leading scorer and keeping everything on the perimeter. And even though it meant sacrificing some offensive opportunities, the strategy worked well, holding Missouri State’s Fumiya Shiraishi to just one shot in the first half, and three overall. Shiraishi entered the match with six goals this season, the most in the country.
 
Central Arkansas’s defense continued to block out the other Bears, holding the home team scoreless over the first 45 minutes. The defense continued to stay strong as the second half opened, but the Bears allowed themselves to push forward more, seeking a transition opportunity to maybe sneak out a goal of their own.
 
Aby Gomez took the first shot of the match for Central Arkansas in the 61st minute, putting a threatening ball on frame that the Missouri State keeper was able to stay in front of, and suddenly, it was on. The Bears would end up taking four shots in the second half, keeping the defense solid on the back of Elijah Bishop and Javier Ramirez, but allowing the offense to stretch. As time wound down, Vaclav Kozeny found himself a quality look, but his shot went straight to the keeper. Missouri State had one more look at the end, but the header went high.
 
The Central Arkansas defense held off 17 shots, allowing just five to reach Ramriez, who made each and every save. The Bears also successfully fended off ten corner kicks in the draw.
 
The Bears are back on the pitch next weekend, heading out east to face High Point next Sunday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT.
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