Missouri State women’s soccer will face one of its most intriguing early-season challenges Thursday, Aug. 20, when the Bears travel to Manhattan, Kansas, to take on Kansas State at Buser Family Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m., marking Missouri State’s first road match of the 2026 regular season and its first meeting with the Wildcats since 2018.
The matchup comes at an important point in the opening weeks of the season. Missouri State enters the contest at 0-1 after suffering a difficult 7-0 defeat against No. 15 Kansas in its season opener Sunday. The Bears will be looking to regroup quickly against a Kansas State squad that has already established strong momentum, beginning the year with a perfect 2-0 record.
Kansas State opened its campaign with a convincing 4-0 victory over Seattle U before following it with a 3-1 triumph against Hawaii at the Outrigger Soccer Kickoff. The Wildcats scored seven goals across their first two matches, the highest total in program history through the opening two games of a season. Their fast start has added significance to Thursday’s contest as Missouri State attempts to rebound against a confident opponent.
The Wildcats are also coming off a landmark 2025 campaign. Kansas State recorded the first winning season in program history last year, finishing 7-6-5 while setting 49 school records during head coach Colleen Corbin’s first season in charge. That progress has carried into the new season, making the Wildcats an increasingly difficult non-conference opponent.
A Series Missouri State Has Dominated
Thursday’s contest will be only the third meeting between Missouri State and Kansas State. Despite the limited history, the Bears have controlled the series, holding a 2-0 advantage and never allowing the Wildcats to score.
Missouri State defeated Kansas State 2-0 in Springfield in 2016 before returning to Manhattan in 2018 and earning a 1-0 shutout victory. In that most recent meeting, Brittney Robinson delivered the decisive moment by scoring the winning goal in the 63rd minute, giving the Bears their first road victory over Kansas State.
With eight years having passed since the teams last met, Thursday’s match will provide a fresh chapter in the rivalry while giving both programs an opportunity to measure their current progress against a familiar regional opponent.
Familiar Faces Add Another Layer
The trip to Manhattan will carry additional meaning for several Missouri State players. Five Bears on the current roster are from Kansas, including Joree Houdeshell and Anisten Cabantac of Olathe, as well as Maggie O’Keefe, Kyra Berman and Jane Hansen of Overland Park.
Senior defender Lily Patterson will have an especially notable connection to the matchup. Patterson previously played for Kansas State before transferring to Missouri State, meaning Thursday’s game will see her return to face her former program.
Missouri State is also entering a demanding stretch of its non-conference schedule. The Kansas State match represents the second of five games against Power Four opponents this season. The Bears still have meetings with Missouri, Iowa State and Iowa remaining, providing the team with several opportunities to test itself against high-level competition.
Bears Looking to Build on Recent Success
Although Missouri State is coming off a difficult opening result, the program enters the season with a strong recent track record. The Bears have reached a conference tournament championship match in three of the past four seasons, winning Missouri Valley Conference titles in 2022 and 2024 before advancing to the Conference USA championship match in 2025.
After reaching the CUSA title game during their first season in the league, Missouri State was picked second in the 2026 Conference USA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, reflecting the expectations surrounding the program.
Several returning players could play important roles as the Bears attempt to rebound. Sophomore Ellie Neath enters her second season after scoring in both Missouri State’s CUSA quarterfinal and semifinal victories during last year’s tournament run. Maggie O’Keefe also returns as one of the team’s leading offensive threats from 2025 after producing three goals and an assist for seven points, including a game-winning goal.
Head coach Kirk Nelson is beginning his fifth season at the helm. During his first four seasons, Nelson guided Missouri State to a 44-24-14 overall record, a 25-5-8 conference mark and 41 shutouts, establishing the Bears as one of the more consistent programs in their league.
Thursday’s match will therefore serve as more than just a response to Missouri State’s opening loss. It will be an early test of the Bears’ resilience, depth and ability to compete against a Power Four opponent on the road.
What’s Next
After the Kansas State matchup, Missouri State will return home for three consecutive games. The homestand begins Sunday with a 3 p.m. matchup against Missouri, giving the Bears another immediate opportunity to face a major-conference opponent.
For now, the focus is on Manhattan, where Missouri State will attempt to extend its perfect all-time record against Kansas State while the Wildcats look to continue their unbeaten start and protect home field.
The match is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at Buser Family Park in Manhattan, Kansas, with coverage available on ESPN+ and live statistics provided online.
Missouri State: 0-1-0
Kansas State: 2-0-0
Series: Missouri State leads 2-0
Last meeting: Missouri State won 1-0 in 2018
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