'Let's shock the world': Missouri State women's soccer meets No. 9 Arkansas in NCAA Tournament

Appearing in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament is a baseline standard for Missouri State, but its two previous women's soccer seasons were anomalous.

Nine combined wins were bookended by a pandemic and the retirement of 26-year coach Rob Brewer, leaving the program in a teetering position.

Kirk Nelson, a veteran MSU assistant who had signed a promising 2022 class, believed the program had the means to return to the upper crust of the MVC.

MSU administration believed Nelson − a former recruiting coordinator at Pac-12 Washington State − could get it there.

They were both right.

The Bears resoundly ended their two-year MVC Tournament absence Sunday after downing Murray State 1-0 in the championship round, punching their third NCAA Tournament ticket in program history.

Missouri State (12-6-2) travels to ninth-ranked Arkansas (11-3-4) on Friday in a 6:30 p.m. first-round game at Razorback Stadium.

"Let's shock the world," a smiling Nelson said Wednesday, months after his promotion.

Missouri State, which finished second in the MVC regular season standings before catching postseason fire, has embodied that approach.

The Bears were picked eighth in the preseason MVC coaches poll in August before a blend of experienced, assertive underclassmen and key transfers changed their fortune.

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They don't yield much scoring. Missouri State tied a program record for 11 shutouts this season, an effort led by junior defender Carly Raunig, the MVC Defensive Player of the Year.

"The back line and forward line have really started to connect," said Eureka native Hailey Chambliss, the MVC Freshman of the Year. "Our back has come up big the last few games. We sometimes score just one goal and we're pulled back for the rest of the game."

Nelson saw a good defensive team in the Bears' two previous losing seasons that was held back by a lack of offensive production.

With a change in scheme and personnel, Chambliss, who leads the Bears in goals (eight) and points (18), has five game-winning kicks this season, a program record.

Versatile sophomore forward Grace O'Keefe, the MVC Player of the Year, has fired off 40 shots and is second on the team in points (12) and goals (four).

The Bears, also led by MVC Tournament MVP Kaeli Benedict (four goals), are scoring by committee. Eight players have scored at least one goal.

"We had to get better on the attack, and we have," Nelson said. "I knew the skill sets these players have, so I'm not shocked where we're at. We have always believed in what we have."

Kyli Jackson, a senior who experienced a winning season in 2019 before a string of losses, pointed to recent change in culture.

"I think our environment is completely different. We have a lot of positivity around us and a lot of encouragement," Jackson said. "From the higher-ups (in the athletic department) and down, we've seen that they believe in us, and that helps."

Nelson said the program's swift turnaround started with lengthy meeting with his seniors in January.

"They believe I gave them a strong voice in what they wanted to accomplish," he said. "We want to keep raising the standard."

An upset over a Southeast Conference power on Friday would surely move the bar.

Missouri State has never won an NCAA Tournament game, falling to Oklahoma State in 2017 and Arizona State in 2000.

O'Keefe knows what to expect from Arkansas, which reached the national quarterfinals a season ago.

"They're obviously going to be really athletic, and we know it's going to be a really tough game," O'Keefe said. "They're one of the top teams in the country."

The Razorbacks handled the Bears 7-0 in their COVID-delayed 2020 season.

"The pressure is all on them," Nelson said.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State women's soccer goes to NCAA Tournament against Arkansas