EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Chris Anzalone scored in both halves Wednesday as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's soccer rolled to a 4-1 victory over Central Arkansas in Missouri Valley Conference play.

Anzalone scored his team-leading fourth and fifth goals of the season. His first goal turned out to be the eventual game-winner as SIUE improved to 8-5-1 and 3-1 in the Missouri Valley.

"Chris is playing with a lot of confidence and has the ability to break some games open. Right now he is in his comfort zone and playing the best soccer of his career," said SIUE Head Coach Kevin Kalish.

SIUE took just 12 shots against the visiting Bears but were on target for most of the night.

The Cougars pushed to the net early when Brian Groark took a rebound off a UCA defender and buried a shot from 10 yards out. It was Groark's second goal of the season.

Groark got in on the Cougars' second goal of the night by taking a free kick from the left side of the net and feeding it into Randy Roy who diverted it to a waiting Anzalone for the score.

SIUE's defense held UCA to eight shots in front of starting goalkeeper Scott Meyer, who returned for his first game since Sept. 19. Meyer finished with one save and was bolstered by a group of backs that have been solid all season.

"Our whole back line did very well," Kalish said.

Central Arkansas, now 3-10 overall and 0-4 in the MVC, scored its only goal from 30 yards out less than two minutes into the second half. Wynne Mason took a pass from Alex Parker and converted the long shot into a goal.

SIUE would answer at 64:15 with Anzalone's second goal of the night. He scored from 12 yards out on a pass from Jared Tejada.

Mike Jones would score in his second straight game just two minutes later. SIUE's Benny Jeffery served a free kick into the box as Jones headed it in.

"It's good to see Mike step up on restarts and set pieces. He has the ability to be a dominant force in the air, and I think he has done that and proven it all year," Kalish said.

SIUE now has a few days before its home finale Saturday against Drake. The Senior Day game is set for 7 p.m. at Korte Stadium. Drake suffered its first conference loss Wednesday with a 2-1 loss to No. 10 Creighton.

"We are going to recover tomorrow, put this one behind us and begin focusing on Drake," said

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