WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Early finishing.

That was the answer Midwestern State's Robert Swann had for rival West Texas A&M Friday night at the MSU Soccer Field.

Swann spun a perfectly place free kick just inside the near post in the upper third of the net for his first goal of the season early in the second half to give the No. 2 Mustangs a 1-0 win over the Buffs.

"We come in for early finishing a few times a week," Swann said. "I've been working on that for a while now. Hopefully more will come."

The goal might have provided the difference in score of the match, but defense certainly determined the outcome.

"I was very, very pleased with the first half," MSU coach Doug Elder said. "That was the best we've looked in a long time. We were pinging, possessing and moving off of the ball really well."

The Mustangs held West Texas A&M without a shot into the 51st minute as the Buffs finished with five shots with one harmless attempt on goal.

"We've struggled (defensively) at the beginning of the season," Swann said. "We've picked it up and playing together again as the season's gone along. It's working for us."

Swann finished his free kick in the 47th minute after West Texas A&M's Oliver Mulumba was whistled for a foul while taking out MSU forward Nick Auditore from behind.

Swann lined up the free kick from 22  yards out on the left wing and buried it in the upper left corner on the near post.

"The goal changed the complexion of how we were playing," Elder said. "We were a little bit tentative to possess the ball after scoring, but that's a quality team they have."

All five shots by West Texas A&M came after Swann's goal, while the Mustangs managed six more shot with none falling on frame.

Midwestern State, which has now won nine-straight to improve to 11-1 overall and 3-0 in the Southwest Soccer Conference, plays host to Eastern New Mexico Sunday afternoon at the MSU Soccer Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

West Texas A&M dropped to 8-5 overall and 2-2 in the SSC.