KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The No. 2-seed Missouri State men's soccer team will make its fifth straight Missouri Valley Conference championship game following its 1-0 win over the No. 3-seed UIC Flames in the tournament semifinals Wednesday afternoon.
Similar to many of Missouri State's wins late in the regular season, Missouri State got on the board early and maintained control of possession throughout the rest of the game.
Sophomore forward
Gijs Hovius once again scored in the early going. The 2023 All-MVC second-teamer scored in the 10th minute off a deflected pass from fellow All-MVC standout, senior Midfielder
Kian Yari.
"UIC is a fantastic team," head coach
Michael Seabolt said. "For them to be 34th in RPI is huge. I hope for their sake their season is not done because the Missouri Valley is a heck of a league."
Hovius now leads the team with six goals on the season, breaking a tie with senior forward
Jesus Barea. Of his six goals, Hovius' last three have come in the opening 10 minutes of a game. Missouri State has scored in the opening 15 minutes in each of its last five games.
"Getting an early goal and playing well from the start is unbelievably important," Seabolt said. "Gijs scored the goal, but it was a great team goal with a lot of good movement.
Yari came up with his fourth assist of the season and now has one in consecutive games. He moves into sole possession of third on the Missouri State all-time assists with 22, breaking a tie with Doug Lascody (2001-2004).
Yari has gotten at least four assists in each of the last four seasons going back to the spring 2020-21 season.
"He's an All-American," Seabolt said. "He's been an absolute team player all year and he's playing really well when it matters."
The Bears continued to push after taking the early lead, firing off seven shots in the opening 20 minutes, including four on goal. Missouri State outshot UIC 12-7, including 8-2 in the first half.
The Flames got their first opportunity at the net in the 26th minute after drawing a foul in the goal box, giving them a penalty kick. Sophomore goalkeeper
Jonathan Kliewer made his first career start for the Bears, and he showed up when the lights shined brightest. Kliewer went head-to-head against UIC junior forward and All-MVC First Team Player Bart Muns. The 6-foot-4 Kliewer dove hard to his left to knock the kick away.
"I saw how he placed the ball down and a little bit of his posture," Kliewer said about how he prepared for the penalty kick. "You have to just go for it even if he shoots the other way, just go and act as if you are going to make the save."
The stop was his first save since transferring from Detroit Mercy where he won Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021. Kliewer said he embraced his teammates celebrating the save but had to keep his composure as UIC got a corner kick after he knocked the ball away.
"
Jonathan Kliewer is an unbelievable goalkeeper and an unbelievable person," Seabolt said. "He stayed locked in all season. He had the opportunity to play today and he took his moment. He's a proven goalkeeper in the NCAA DI level and he showed why again today. That's what it takes to be a top team."
Kliewer is a Grand Rapids, Michigan native, just an hour north of Kalamazoo. He recorded three saves for his ninth career collegiate shutout and first with Missouri State.
"That was absolutely huge for me," Kliewer said. "I know my dad would go as far as he could to come watch our games, but the fact that it was in Michigan, quasi home game for me at least personally, was huge. If there was any opportunity I could take to start my career here, this would be the one I would circle on the calendar. I was thrilled about it."
Missouri State's defense held the line for Kliewer as UIC didn't get a shot off during live play until the 37th minute.
The Bears managed the game as the clock wound down. The Flames were held to just five shots in the second half, including just two shots on goal.
Missouri State will make its 14th appearance in the MVC championship and its fifth straight title appearance. The Bears will also be making their seventh title game appearance in eight seasons.
The Bears look to join Creighton as the only programs to win four straight Valley tourney titles. The Bluejays won four straight from 1992-95.
No. 15-ranked Missouri State (11-2-3) awaits the winner of the other MVC semifinal game between No. 1-seed Western Michigan and No. 5-seed Northern Illinois to determine the championship matchup. The MVC title game will be on Saturday, November 11 at noon CT.