Last minute goals lead Missouri State soccer to 2-0 win over MSSU

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Freshman goalkeeper Chloe Sevilla held Division I Missouri State scoreless for 73 minutes, but a pair of goals in the 74th minute gave the Bears the exhibition win 2-0 inside Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium in Springfield Friday evening.

The game was a back-and-forth affair in the first half, before two goals in the last 20 minutes of the game sealed the outcome.

Sevilla held Missouri State scoreless for two-thirds of the contest and finished the game with seven saves in her first collegiate action. 

Freshman midfielder Jori Hays led the Lions with three shots while junior Bailey Belcher and senior Meredith Belrose each registered a shot on goal.

The Lions are back in action Sunday as they will play the Bears once again with the game scheduled to start at 2 pm inside Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium

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MSSU soccer to play exhibition matches at Missouri State

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern soccer program will play a pair of exhibition games tonight and Sunday at Missouri State University.

Southern and the Bears will kickoff tonight at 7 pm tonight and will play at 2 pm on Sunday from Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium in Springfield.

The games will be part of what will be considered the Lions' normal spring season as Southern and the MIAA will hope to play some of their championship season in the Spring.

Southern returns 12 players from a season ago and the roster, including four seniors, as well as a fifth in transfer Serena Schwartz (South Carolina State). Rylie Johnson, Bailey Hunsicker, Carina Calderon and Meredith Belrose are the other four seniors on this year's team.

Six starters return from last year's squad including Johnson, Belrose, Calderon, Bailey Belcher, Riley Laver and Cameron Walton. Belcher is the Lions' returning leading scorer as the junior led the team with 27 shots on goal (50 total), scoring three times with one assist for seven points on the year. Laver started in 12 of the 13 games she played in last year, leading the team with nearly 1,100 minutes between the pipes and a 2.47 goals against average. She made 75 saves a season ago.

"This fall is a great opportunity for our team to get together and compete against a top level team from the Missouri Valley Conference," said head coach Aaron Tilsen. "The spirit and energy that a few games has brought to the team is something special and we will not waste the opportunity to improve and gain some experience. We have 13 freshman on our roster and they will get a chance to grow and prove themselves next week. I know it will be a tough test for us as we have not played a game in over 11 months, since November 3, 2019. The team will look to learn grow and improvement from this opportunity and I am thankful that our university see's the value in supporting our athletic team in these unprecedented times."

Mahomes, Mayor Lucas pushing for Toronto Raptors to play their games in Kansas City this season

 Other cities, including Louisville, are in the hunt, but Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Mayor Quinton Lucas are trying to convince the NBA's Toronto Raptors to play their home games in Missouri this season.

The opportunity exists because travel is not being allowed between the United States and Canada due to the pandemic.

The accompanying video is from KMBC.

MSSU 1972 NAIA championship team inducted into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The 1972 Missouri Southern NAIA Football National Championship team was inducted Tuesday into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Football Sports Enthusiasts Luncheon in Springfield inside the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E*Plex East Wing in Springfield.

"This honor is well-deserved and representative of the fine student-athletes and coaches that I had the privilege of working with," said former head coach and athletic director Jim Frazier. "I am very proud of this special group of young men."

The 1972 MSSU Football team won the NAIA Division II Championship by defeating Northwestern College of Iowa, 21-14 in Joplin. Under the direction of Frazier, the team finished the season with a perfect 12-0 record.

Led by quarterback Ray Harding, tackles Terron Jackson and Charles Hendricks, Linebacker Barry Korner and defensive back Jack Duda, the Lions blitzed through the regular season en route to the National Championship.

The team started the season 4-0 with wins on the road at Fort Hays State and the College of Emporia, as well as home wins against Southeast Missouri and Missouri S&T. The team then went on the road and took out NCAA Division I Nevada-Las Vegas, 7-0. Duda ended that game for the Lions with an interception in the endzone to seal the shutout.

Southern finished the regular season with a perfect record of 10-0, including wins over Pittsburg State, Washburn, Emporia State, Missouri Western and Culver-Stockton. The Lions faced Doan College in the opening round of the playoffs at historic Junge Field in Joplin. A downpour made the natural grass field a mud pit, but the Southern defense held steady and limited Doane to just six yards rushing and 37 yards in the air in the 24-6 win.

On to the National Championship game which would again be held in Joplin at Junge Field. The Raiders of Northwestern College in Iowa came to town. Southern trailed by a point with three minutes to go in the game when the defense forced Northwestern to punt. The punt went into the endzone and the Lions' Sam Kealoha pounced on it for the touchdown. A two-point conversion from Terry Starks and a late interception from Duda sealed the 21-14 win and the National Title.

The game served as a first for both Southern and the State of Missouri as the Lions became the first collegiate football team in the state of Missouri to win a National Championship.

Members of the team included: Jerry Adkinson, Neal Alkire, Kerry Anders, Ron Barnes, Joe Balentine, John Busalacki, George Bruto, Larry Cameron, John Carter, Mike Cole, Bob Danner, Jack Duda, Doug Efird, David L. Evans, David S. Evans, Randy Fidler, Marty Galbraith, Fred Gnerlich, Randy Hacker, Roger Hall, Steve Hamilton, Ray Harding, Todd Heflin, Charles Hendricks, Larry Hill, Tyrone Hill, Randy Hocker, John Howard, Ken Howard, Terron Jackson, Jack Jewsbury, Sam Keohala, Barry Korner, John LaBlank, Mike Mitchell, Max Mourglia, Steve Muehling, Jim Nieman, Dennis Pendergrass, Bill Ruble, Ed Ryan, Paul Sallie, Terry Starks, Kent Stracke, Jack Varns, Steward Ward, John Watson, Melvin Wilson, and Jeff Wolverton. In addition to Frazier coaches were Tony Calwhite, Charlie Wade, Jim Hoots and Ed Wuch. Managers were Ron McReynolds, Doug Guier, Henry Moyer, and Doug Dodd.

The complete schedule and results are listed below.

Sept. 9 Fort Hays State (A) W 40-15
Sept. 16 Southeast Missouri (H) W 7-6
Sept. 23 College of Emporia (A) W 33-7
Sept. 30 Missouri S&T (H) W 39-7
Oct. 7 UNLV (A) W 7-0
Oct. 14 Pittsburg State (H) W 21-6
Oct. 21 Washburn (A) W 14-3
Oct. 28 Emporia State (HC) W 14-9
Nov. 4 Missouri Western (H) W 52-7
Nov. 11 Culver-Stockton (H) W 63-12
Nov. 25 Doane College (H) + W 24-6
Dec. 2 Northwestern (H) + W 21-14

The 1972 football team joins eight other individuals and one other team with ties to Missouri Southern to be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Also in the HOF are Sallie Beard, Robert Corn, Pat Lipira, Tom Rutledge, Anita Rank Oplotnik, Rod Smith, Warren Turner, Patty Vavra and the Missouri Southern Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Programs.

Joining the 1972 football team in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame today was former Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski, former St. Louis football Cardinal Terry Metcalf, Branson radio's Scott McCaulley and Midway coach Larry Burchett and the Midway football program.

Carthage High School golfer takes eighth place at state tournament

 

(From Carthage R-9 School District)

Class 3 Girls Golf Championship: Hailey Bryant finished 8th place at the Class 3 Girls Golf Championship! She is the first Lady Tiger golfer to be All-State! 

Congratulations on your outstanding accomplishment, Hailey! Also, congratulations to Rylee Scott and Caitlin Derryberry for advancing to the Class 3 Girls Golf Championship!

Missouri Southern selected as site for numerous NCAA cross country championships

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern State University and the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course has been selected to host numerous NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Regional Championships, as well as a National Championship as the NCAA announced today.

Already slated to host the 2021 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Central Region Championships, MSSU will now be hosting the 2022-25 Central Regional Championships, as well as the 2023 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's National Championships.

The Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course is no stranger to big meets as the facility is routinely home to one of the largest cross country events in the Midwest with the Southern Stampede that sees thousands of athletes and many more spectators each year. 

The facility has been host to numerous MIAA Championships, as well as NCAA Regional Championships in 1999, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2019. The course has also been host to the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1999, 2007, 2012 and 2015. This will be the fifth time a National Championship has been hosted by MSSU at the course.

"What the NCAA announced today only solidifies what we already know," said Director of Athletics Jared Bruggeman. "The Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course is a premier facility in all of Division II, as well as the country. We are excited about the opportunity to once again host NCAA competitions. This run of regionals is unprecedented in Southern history. We appreciate the faith the NCAA and our region has in knowing the community of Joplin and MSSU will host the events in a way that allows for the best student-athlete Championship experience."

"Our region spans through the states of Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. This is also a great opportunity to display the hospitality of Southwest Missouri and simultaneously create another economic occasion for our local communities especially with the hotels, stores, airport and restaurants to prosper. Being able to host the 2023 National Championship is icing on the cake!"

The Joplin Sports Authority will once again support the University in this endeavor in showcasing Joplin as a Championship City.

"The Joplin Sports Authority is proud to support Missouri Southern Athletics on this successful bid to bring the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships back to the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course," said JSA Director Craig Hull. "Earning the opportunity to host the NCAA Division II Regional Cross Country Championships for five-straight years on top of the National Championship will allow a significant impact on the local economy generating visitor spending for our hotel, restaurant and retail partners."

Changes announced for MSSU men's, women's basketball schedules

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The MIAA announced today that during the 2020-21 men's and women's basketball season a Thursday/Saturday format will be utilized, thus changing some games on the current schedule.

The MIAA did say games that were moved prior to today's action by the Association for the purpose of avoiding conflicts with finals week will remain in place regardless of the day of the week they were moved to.

The Lions will have three changes to their schedule with today's action. The home opener slated for December 2 will now be on December 3. The road game on January 27 at Rogers State will now be played on January 28 and the home game on February 24 against Washburn will now be on February 25. All game times will remain the same.

Stay tuned to www.mssulions.com for any further information or schedule changes should they occur.

Registration still open for Joplin Family Y youth soccer programs