MSU Athletics

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - No. 3 Midwestern State found itself in unfamiliar territory Sunday afternoon at the MSU Soccer Field - behind on the scoreboard.

But the Mustangs were prepared.

"We've talked about it in practice and set up scrimmage sessions when we've been down," MSU coach Doug Elder said.

David Freeland and VcMor Eligwe tallied second half goals to life Midwestern to a 2-1 Lone Star Conference victory over rival West Texas A&M.

"I was proud of the guys," Elder said. "They kept working hard and grinding against a team that was desperate for a win."

The Buffs got a much needed spark when Nicki Nielsen banged in loose ball off of a corner kick in the 44th minute to give WT a 1-0 advantage going into the half.

It was the first time MSU had trailed in a match since falling to the Buffs 3-0 in the NCAA Division II South Central/Midwest Regional last November in Durango, Colo.

And it didn't last long as junior forward David Freeland struck a bounding ball near the 6-yard box back over his head for his team leading fifth goal of the season in the 51st minute.

The Mustangs, who outshot WT 20-11 including an 8-3 edge in shots on goals for the match, would then take the lead in the 77th minute despite a pair of miraculous saves by WT goalkeeper Sebastian Furness.

The junior keeper stoned MSU Nathan Fitzgerald's head of a cross then lunged for the rebound attempt, but couldn't contain a third quick shot off of Eligwe's right foot to give the Mustangs a 2-1 advantage with 13 minutes to play.

"That was a huge win for us," Elder said. "Our character was tested and we came through."

MSU extended its home field unbeaten streak to 29 matches dating back to the final regular season contest of the 2007 season, while West Texas A&M fell to 6-5 with four of its five losses coming against teams ranked in the NSCAA Top 10.

The Mustangs complete the first half of conference play Friday night against Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

Game Notes
- Midwestern State matched its best start in school history by improving to 10-0 with a 2-1 win over rival West Texas A&M Sunday afternoon at the MSU Soccer Field. MSU opened the 1987 campaign with 10 straight wins before falling at Alderson-Broaddus 2-1 on Oct. 11, 1987 in Phillippi, W. Va.
- Midwestern's current 10-game winning streak is the eighth time in program history an MSU team has won as many consecutive matches. It's the third longest streak of the Doug Elder era (2000-present) as the Mustangs on 15 straight in 2008 and 14 consecutive in 2006.