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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lions open season with a bang, defeat Delta State 3-1 Joplin, Mo.. -- The Missouri Southern Lions could not have scripted a better start to the 2007 campaign, scoring three first-half goals and going on to defeat the Delta State (Miss.) Statesmen 3-1 on a rainy night at Hal Bodon Field. The match was called with 3:57 left in the second half due to lightning in the area. Senior defender Ryan Morris (Topeka, Kan.) did not waste any time getting the Lions going by netting his first career goal just 7:38 into the match from on a terrific shot from 35 yards out to give Southern the early lead. DSU evened things in the 30th minute on a goal from Simeon Xiong that made it 1-1. Sophomore Mike Bayless (Lansing, Kan.) then put the Lions (1-0) ahead to stay less than three minutes later with a well-placed shot that bounced off the crossbar and into the net for a 2-1 Southern advantage. Junior Brett Kohler (Waterloo, Ill.) would put the finishing touches on the season-opening victory by tapping in a shot off of a great cross from Austin Whiles (Overland Park, Kan.) for the Lions' third goal of the evening. MSSU goalkeeper Jon Hansen (Wichita, Kan.) allowed only the one goal while making six stops on the night. DSU (0-1) out-shot the Lions 10-8 overall and 7-5 on-goal. The Lions held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks. The Lions will next host Harding (Ark.) on Sunday beginning at 3 p.m. at Hal Bodon Field.
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