WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Intensity and consistency represent hot button concepts for new-look Midwestern State side in 2009.
After battling with three close matches this season, the No. 21-ranked Mustangs exploded for a 5-0 result over Regis (Colo.) Sunday afternoon at the MSU Soccer Field.
"We have to keep playing and attacking," MSU forward Nick Auditore said. "We've had some problems getting some goals and finishing, but we got five of them today. That should definitely help our confidence."
Auditore led the charge with his first two tallies of the season, but it was the MSU midfield that provided the lift Sunday against the Rangers, who slipped to 2-2.
The midfield tallied an assist on each of the Mustangs' goals beginning with a serve from the left wing by Tyler Murphy to a streaking Auditore to give Midwestern a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.
MSU took advantage of a miscue near the Regis goal which resulted in a corner kick in the 49th minute as redshirt freshman Dean Lovegrove's strike to the near post was headed in by senior Jake Landon to extend the lead to two goals after taking a 1-0 advatnate into the intermission.
The Mustangs turned the intensity up in the second half to put the match away with three more scores.
"We played a good, well-coached team today, but they are young and just couldn't handle our pressure," MSU coach Doug Elder said. "We have a lot of depth and just wore them down as the match wore on."
Senior midfielder Reid Schmidt served a volley to Auditore, who beat Regis keeper Wally Fink for his second score of the match in the 57th minute, then senior midfielder Kyle Hyden took over.
Hyden worked the right wing to strike a cross for former Wichita Falls Rider High standout Nathan Fitzgerald's first goal as a Mustang in the 64th minute before setting up Tex McCullough in the 70th minute for Midwestern's fifth and final goal of the contest.
MSU outshot the Rangers 22-2 to help junior goalkeeper Raul Herrera to his second shutout of the season without facing a shot on goal.
The Mustangs, who improved to 3-1 with their third-straight win, hit the road to battle Texas A&M International Friday night in Laredo before taking on St. Mary's Sunday afternoon in San Antonio.
Midwestern State has now won their last 12 home matches and extended its unbeaten string to 13 dating back to a 1-0 loss to West Texas A&M in the final regular season contest in 2007. The Mustangs tied Sonoma State in the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals played at the MSU Soccer Field on Nov. 17, 2007, but advanced to the Final Four on penalty kicks.
