Morgan Bodker’s late heroics on a 76th-minute game-winning goal gave Murray State women’s soccer the 1-0 victory over Drake in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Thursday night in Carbondale, Illinois. The win is the first for Murray State in MVC postseason play.
The Racers were able to flip the script against the Bulldogs after Drake took the regular-season match 1-0 just four days ago in Des Moines, Iowa.
MSU was able to put up five shots in a scoreless first half in what was a very physical battle between the two sides. Following the break, the Racers would put up six more shots to outshoot the Bulldogs 11-4 on the evening.
In the 55th minute of the matchup, the Racers looked to have a huge chance to take the lead after a Drake foul led to a Murray State penalty. Bodker would step up to the spot for MSU but the goalkeeper for the Bulldogs would make a vital save to keep the match scoreless.
The Racers kept their attacking threat throughout the second half and by the 76th minute, they would not be denied any longer. After earning a corner kick, Grace Bodker swung a ball that found the feet of her sister Morgan who was able to show her resilience in the match and lift the shot over the Drake goalie into the left side of the net to secure the lead.
The goal is Bodker’s third of the season and the fifth of her career while playing as a center back.
Murray State now sets its focus on Southern Illinois for an MVC quarterfinal matchup with the fourth-seeded Salukis on Sunday in Carbondale, Ill.
The matchup will be aired on ESPN+ as part of the Valley on ESPN.