SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Callum Riley's hopeful short cross in the box found its mark and Vincent Bailey drilled in just his second goal of the season with 98 second remaining Thursday night to lift No. 9 Incarnate Word to a 1-0 win over No. 4 Midwestern State in NCAA Division II first play at Benson Stadium.

"It just a play where Kelly (Gill) slipped on the turf," MSU coach Doug Elder said. "(Bailey) was able to trap and scored."

Incarnate Word (14-2-3) advances to face Central Region champion No. 3 Fort Lewis Sunday in Durango, Colo., while the Mustangs close the season with a 13-4-1 mark.

"They played really well in the second half and threw a lot of numbers forward," Elder said. "We didn't possess the ball like we did in the first half."

Incarnate Word controlled a convincing 18-6 edge in shots including a 10-2 second-half margin when the Cardinals appeared to dominate possession.

The Mustangs were unable to convert either of its four quality chances in the opening half as UIW goalkeeper made saves of shots by David Freeland in the 7th minute, a Chris Dwyer header off of a corner kick in the 15th minute, by Zach Funk in the 34th minute and another quality chance off of a loose ball in the box by Dwyer in the 37th minute.

"We played hard, organized and created great chances in the first half," Elder said. "These are two very good soccer teams and they had a great, very vocal crowd."

It was the Cardinals first postseason win in five tries against MSU. The victory was also their first positive postseason result since 2004.

But a Midwestern postseason run appeared a scant possibility after the Mustangs dropped consecutive matches for the first time since 2005 early last month.

"Our backs were against the wall the last seven games," Elder said. "We played with passion and played very physical tonight. We laid it all out on the line. I was proud of the guys. Both teams played very well."

The Mustangs peeled off a 6-0-1 stretch to close the regular season to earn their sixth straight postseason berth.

"It was a good run and the guys played hard," Elder said. "We just didn't get the bounce. That's just what happens sometimes."