LAREDO, Texas - Midwestern State has made a living out of grinding out tough road wins.

The No. 14-ranked Mustangs needed every bit of that grit in Friday night's 1-0 win over Texas A&M International at Dustdevil Field.

And the play of goalkeeper Raul Herrera didn't hurt either as the junior transfer from Richland College made a pair of one-on-one saves as part of a nine-save night for his third shutout of the season.

"Raul won us the game tonight," MSU coach Doug Elder said. "I always tell our keeper they can win us a couple of game a year and he was flawless today. Credit to him because he kept us in the match."

The Dustdevils (0-2-1) placed nine of the their 12 shots on goal and continued to play a physical brand of soccer that had produced a total of 22 bookings in their opening two matches of the season against West Texas A&M and St. Mary's (Texas).

"They pressed us and it was a hard-fought game," Elder said. "We just don't match up real well with them and their South American style. We had to be patient and disciplined and I thought we were."

Junior midfielder Paulo Teixeira accounted for the lone score of the game on a free kick from 23 yards out in front of the 18-yard box for his first tally as a Mustang. The transfer from Massasoit (Mass.) Community College tucked the ball just inside the left post in the 21st minute.

The Mustangs continued to put the pressure on the Dustdevils in the opening half, but couldn't convert on a pair of breakaway opportunities by forward Nick Auditore and Tex McCullough.

"We hammered them in the first half, but it was just one of those games that they were always in the way," Elder said. "I was proud of the guys for keeping their composure. We grinded out the win and that's what we're supposed to do."

Texas A&M International's Roy Hernandez earned an ejection in the 67th minute when he connected on a head-high elbow to MSU forward Kyle Kmiec.

It was one of four bookings for the match with the Mustangs drawing a pair of yellow cards while Texas A&M International added a caution to go along with the Hernandez' ejection.

Midwestern State (4-1) continues its weekend road swing Sunday afternoon against St. Mary's in San Antonio, Texas. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.