The Standard

Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Matt Moore

Missouri State coach Jon Leamy said he has finally figured out what Heath Melugin does best: score goals.

Now, Leamy's hoping the freshman forward can continue to boost the Bears like he has done in recent games.

Melugin scored two goals Tuesday night as the Bears beat Central Arkansas 2-1 at Plaster Field.

"He just has a knack for scoring goals," Leamy said. "He's a big, strong kid that is capable of making plays happen."

Melugin now has three goals on the season after going scoreless in the Bears' first nine games. He scored a goal in the team's 2-0 victory over Howard last Friday.

Against Central Arkansas, Melugin scored just under four minutes into the game when he headed in a throw-in from junior forward Johannes Demarzi.

With under five minutes left in the game, Melugin scored again when he blasted home a cross pass from freshman Jordan Barnes.

"It just took (Melugin's)… dumb coach a while to see what he does best," Leamy sheepishly said.

Central Arkansas' Adam Schwabauer answered 37 seconds later when he scored off a loose ball, but Missouri State (3-6-3) held on to beat Central Arkansas (2-8-1).

Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Riggs had just two saves on the night for Missouri State, which had a decisive 21-5 edge in shots. Four Missouri State players had three or more shots.

Missouri Valley Conference play gets going this weekend for the Bears.

Missouri State plays at Drake Saturday night at 7. The Bears then travel to Indiana to face Evansville next Wednesday night at 7.

Last season, Missouri State beat Drake 3-1 at home and lost to Evansville 2-1 at home.

Leamy said Drake and Evansville have been receiving votes for the Top 25 national rankings. While neither is yet in the Top 25, he said both are in the Top 30 to 35.

"It's a tough challenge for us but at least we have some momentum and confidence," Leamy said.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools