Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record

MSU junior forward David Freeland (7) celebrates one of his three national quarterfinal goals at Chico State with teammates Bryce Taylor (14), Sam Broadbent (12) and Dean Lovegrove (8).

Men's Soccer 12/2/2010 10:12:00 AM MSU Sports Information

Game Day: Midwestern State, Rollins set for national semifinal battle

Setting the Stage

Midwestern State returns to the NCAA Division II Final Four for the second time in school history against Rollins (Fla.) this afternoon at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium on the campus of Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky.

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (Central Time).

The Mustangs battled eventual national champion Franklin Pierce to a scoreless in the national semifinal round in their only other trip to the NCAA II national semfinals. MSU was eliminated in penalty kicks by a 4-2 margin.

Midwestern is looking for its fifth national final berth as the Mustangs played for the NAIA national title in 1982, 1983, 1991 and 1995.

No MSU athletic team has ever won a national championship.

Where to Find the Game

Live Video Stream - A live video streaming broadcast is available courtesy of NCAA.com. Link

Live Stats -
Live stats are available courtesy of NCAA.com. Link

About the Mustangs

Midwestern State is one of three remaining unbeaten sides in all of NCAA soccer, but has been alone in the Division II ranks since the final week of September.

At 19-0-3, the Mustangs are joined by Division I national quarterfinalist Louisville (19-0-3) and Division III national semifinalist Wisconsin-Oshkosh (20-0-3).

Midwestern State enjoyed its best start in school history by claiming wins in its first 12 matches before battling Incarnate Word and St. Edward's to scoreless draws on Oct. 22 and 24, respectively.

The Mustangs have rebounded to win their last seven matches to clinched the school's second unbeaten regular season ledger but first since the 2002 team went 13-0-3 before falling the national quarterfinal round at Sonoma State.

MSU brings the nation's No. 2 scoring attack into this afternoon's match, but has done it with balance.

Twelve different Mustangs have tallied at least two goals this season led by junior David Freeland and redshirt freshman VcMor Eligwe who have scored 11 goals each.

Midwestern still bears its standard trademark defense standing second in NCAA Division II with a 0.51 goals against average and is fourth in shutout percentage (0.57) posting 12 clean sheets.

Daktronics South Central Player of the Year Raul Herrera anchors the back line. The senior goalkeeper from Dallas leads the nation with a 0.49 goals against average and owns a 31-3-7 career mark between the posts with a program record 21 career shutouts.

Returning Daktronics All-American Ryan Spence is flanked by fellow center back Kelly Gill with Dean Lovegrove and Landon Fruge' on the outside.

MSU also receives a lift from the midfield as the unit has accounted for 26 goals this season. Senior wing Bryce Taylor leads the way with seven goals and seven assists followed by Nathan Fitzgerald ((five goals, four assists), Paulo Teixeira (five goals, four assists) and Sam Broadbent (four goals, four assists).

Midwestern State is 11-3-3 all-time in NCAA Divisioni II postseason matches.

About the Tars

Rollins, out of Winter Park, Fla., brings a 14-3-3 mark into today's national semifinal after surviving Clayton State (Ga.) 3-2 in two overtimes in last week's quarterfinal.

The Tars are led by a pair of South Region first-teamers in defenders Jack Clifford and Thomas Biddinger who have helped Rollins to nine shutouts and a 0.86 goals against average.

Goalkeeper Keneil Baker earned second-team honors after enjoying a solid frosh campaign with 10-1-2 with seven shutouts.

Rollins has scored 38 goals - 56th in NCAA II with 1.9 goals per game - and let in 18 goals to rank 22nd nationally with a 0.86 goals agianst average.

Offensively, the Tars are led by Chase Neinken with nine goals and six assists followed by Bradley Welch (six goals, two assists), Nick Sowers (five goals, six assists) and Stephen Wright (five goals, one assist).

Neinken tallied each of Rollins' three goals in their quarterfinal result over Clayton State.

About the Series

Midwestern State and Rollins College have met just once before on the soccer pitch.

The Tars edged a 5-0-1 MSU squad 1-0 in the Rollins College Invitational back in 1978.

Quick Hits

With a win, the Mustangs advance to face the winner of the Northern Kentucky/Dowling (N.Y.) in Saturday national championship contest. That game would be broadcast on KJTL Fox 18 in Wichita Falls. The kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (Central Time).
With a win, Midwestern will clinch its fourth 20-win season and first since the 1995 national finalist sqaud rolled to a 21-5-1 mark. The 19 wins matches the 2008 squad for the most wins during the Doug Elder era.

The Mustangs have scored at least three goals in 11 matches this season and in each of their last three outings. MSU is 105-0 when scoring three or more goals during the Elder era.

-- MSUMustangs.com --

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Players Mentioned

#12 Sam Broadbent: MF; 5' 8"; Senior

#21 VcMor Eligwe: F/MF; 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman

#6 Nathan Fitzgerald: MF; 6' 0"; Junior

#7 David Freeland: MF; 5' 7"; Junior

#24 Landon Fruge': D/MF; 6' 0"; Senior

#1 Raul Herrera: GK; 6' 2"; Senior

#8 Dean Lovegrove: MF; 5' 10"; Junior

#15 Ryan Spence: D; 6' 3"; Junior

#14 Bryce Taylor: MF/F; 6' 1"; Senior

#10 Paulo Teixeira: MF; 5' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#12 Sam Broadbent
: 5' 8"; Senior
: MF

#21 VcMor Eligwe
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman
: F/MF

#6 Nathan Fitzgerald
: 6' 0"; Junior
: MF

#7 David Freeland
: 5' 7"; Junior
: MF

#24 Landon Fruge'
: 6' 0"; Senior
: D/MF

#1 Raul Herrera
: 6' 2"; Senior
: GK

#8 Dean Lovegrove
: 5' 10"; Junior
: MF

#15 Ryan Spence
: 6' 3"; Junior
: D

#14 Bryce Taylor
: 6' 1"; Senior
: MF/F

#10 Paulo Teixeira
: 5' 8"; Senior
: MF