WICHITA FALLS, Texas - No. 11 Midwestern State dominated each of the 45 minutes before intermission Sunday night at the MSU Soccer Field in a critical regional battle against Metro State.

But MSU didn't need the whole half to deliver the knockout punch in a 2-0 win over the Roadrunners.

It took all of 48 seconds for senior striker Daniel Brown to follow junior midfielder Ahmad Ihmeidan for goals to effectively put away Metro State in the game's 32nd minute.

"That's a big win for us for recruiting, the rankings, our confidence - everything," MSU coach Doug Elder said.

The Mustangs have won their first three games after dropping two of three in exhibition play.

"I'm proud of the guys after a shaky preseason," Elder said. "I love how these guys back each other up. We know have a long way, but this is a great start."

Midwestern has now won eight in a row on its home pitch since tying Incarnate Word on Sep. 15 last season. Five days before that, the Mustangs suffered their lone loss on the home field last season 3-2 to Northeastern State.

The Mustangs, who are in the midst of a six-match home stand, will face Incarnate Word Friday at 7 p.m.

Once again, it was Ihmeidan and Brown leading the way for MSU.

Ihmeidan kept working in the box at the 32:00-mark after Eddie Lett served a cross from the right wing that Metro State keeper Ryan Vickery was unable to corral.

Sophomore forward Kyle Kmiec kept the ball alive long enough for Ihmeidan to one-time the rebound into the open net.

Forty-eight seconds later, Ihmeidan won a 50/50 in the midfield and led Brown into box with a searching pass to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead 32:48 into the match.

The Mustangs out shot Metro State in the first half 14-1 before settling back in the second half allowing the Roadrunners a 7-4 shot advantage.

"We played really well in the first half, then played defensively in the second," Elder said. "But this is a good team. We knew they would keep coming at us."