GOLDEN, Colo. – No. 5 Midwestern State spotted rival Fort Lewis an early goal before grounding the No. 24 Skyhawks with four second-half goals to come away with a crucial 5-1 Midwest Region win Friday night at Brooks Field.

It's the seventh-straight win for the Mustangs, who improved to 10-1 on the season, while Fort Lewis dropped to 8-3.

"We dominated the first half," MSU coach Doug Elder said. "We turned it on the in the second half, scored some big goals and put them away."

But the Mustangs had to overcome a little bit of adversity before hitting its stride after intermission.

MSU goalkeeper Jeremy Turner was booked for a yellow card after it was ruled he made a play on the ball outside of the box at the 12:59 mark.

"He came off of this line and caught it right at the 18-yard line," Elder said. "We were very disappointed with that call."

The call turned into a Skyhawk goal as Tom Settle converted the free kick to give Fort Lewis a 1-0 advantage in the game's 14th minute.

But it would was all Midwestern State from that point as the Mustangs limited the Skyhawks to just one other shot before intermission, but had nothing to show for it until senior forward Daniel Brown was taken down in the box in the 27th minute.

Junior defender Robert Swann provided MSU with the equalizer on his second successful penalty kick of the season to knot the game at 1-1.

Brown started the second-half explosion with his 12th goal of the season in the 50th minute before Kyle Kmiec and Estevao Alexandre notched goals three minutes apart 10 minutes later to give the Mustangs a commanding 4-1 lead.

Efren Castillo added the final goal in the 73 minute.

Midwestern State outshot the Skyhawks 13-6 as Fort Lewis managed just two more shots on goal after Settle's goal in the 14th minute.

"It was a great team, collective effort," Elder said. "I'm proud of the boys, really proud of them. But there's more work to do Sunday."

That's when the Mustangs battle host Colorado Mines at 2 p.m.