VALPARAISO, Ind. - Hailey Chambliss' 56th-minute goal broke up a scoreless deadlock Sunday in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship match, lifting Missouri State to a 1-0 victory over Murray State and giving the Bears their third MVC Tournament title in program history.
Chambliss' eighth goal of the season helped MSU avenge a midseason loss to Murray State. The Bears (12-6-2) will return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017.
Murray State came into the finals as the No. 8 seed, winners of three straight matches, and the lowest-ranked team to make the MVC Tournament. Meanwhile, the heavily-favored Bears were seeded No. 2 and coming off a 2-1 semifinals victory over UNI on Thursday.
After the score by Chambliss, the Bears kept their foot on the gas, firing three shots on goal. The back line of Carly Raunig, Jenna Anderson, Kyli Jackson and Gabbi Schlapper kept the Racers from creating scoring opportunities, and Camielle Day cleaned house with two saves on the afternoon and her ninth individual shutout. As time expired, MSU' recorded its 11th shutout of the season, tying the program's all-time record set in 2000, and ended Murray State's Cinderella run through the MVC Tournament.
The Bears' NCAA Tournament opponent will be decided Monday (Nov. 7) at 3 p.m. during the 2022 Division I NCAA Women's Soccer Championship Selection Show, where the field of 64 teams will be revealed. The Bears have made two previous NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 2017.
The MVC announced its all-tournament team following the conclusion of the championship match. Benedict earned MVP honors for MoState.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kaeli Benedict, Missouri State (MVP)
Grace O'Keefe, Missouri State
Jenna Anderson, Missouri State
Hailey Chambliss, Missouri State
Jamie Skarupsky, Murray State
Audrey Henry, Murray State
Tori Schrimpf, Murray State
Caitlin Richards, UNI
Lizzie Mewes, UNI
Allie Anderson, Valparaiso
Nicole Norfolk, Valparaiso
Sam DeJulio, Southern Illinois
Vianey Lopez, Drake
Riley Collett, UIC
Claire Fallon, Belmont
Elite 17 Award -- Grace O'Keefe, Missouri State