JACKSONVILLE — The Jax State soccer team will open home Conference USA play with a match against new conference foe Missouri State on Thursday evening at the Jax State Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Jax State comes into the match up with a 6-3-2 record, after taking its first loss in five matches at Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders took a 1-0 lead early in the second half on a penalty kick, and while the Gamecocks had several opportunities in the second half, the Blue Raiders held off the flurry of attacks to preserve the win.

The Bears come into the match with a 3-5-2 record, battling to a draw with Liberty in its Conference USA debut. The Jax State match will be the second game in a three-game road swing for the Bears, who will face Kennesaw State on Sunday before hosting four of its final five matches.

This is the first meeting in program history between these two teams. 

Mo State has won two of the previous three Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships and went to the NCAA tournament in 2022 and 2024.

Through the season so far, Jax State has earned three Player of the Week honors, while the Bears just earned their first honor this week. Jax State had a back-to-back Defensive Player of the Week winner in Raegan Whitaker during the weeks of Sept. 9 and 16, while Amelia Jacobs earned the first weekly honor of her career with an Offensive Player of the Week honor on Sept. 16. Mo State goalkeeper Ella Becker was named CUSA's Goalkeeper of the Week for Sept. 23.

The match is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. from the Jax State Soccer Complex. Darren Spruill and Brian Roher will have the call on ESPN+.