No. 4 Midwestern State begins the quest for a national championship Thursday night against No. 9 Incarnate Word at Benson Stadium in San Antonio. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
FOLLOW THE MUSTANGS
 
Midwestern State's South Central Region title game with Incarnate Word will be video streamed free of charge on CardinalAthletics.com.  LINK
 
Live Stats are available courtesy of Incarnate Word Athletic Media Relations.  LINK
 
ABOUT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
 
The 32-team NCAA Division II Championship field announced earlier this week commenced Wednesday night with Mars Hill defeating Montevallo 3-0 and Lees McRae downing Anderson (S.C.) 3-2 in Super Region 2 play.
 
The Lone Star and Heartland Conference make up the South Central Region and the region is joined with the Central and West regions to comprise Super Region 4.
 
The winner of tonight's Midwestern State/Incarnate Word contest advances to the face the Central Region champion - the winner of tonight's Fort Lewis/Metro State match - Sunday afternoon at a site and time to be determined.
 
The victor of Sunday's match advances to the national quarterfinal round to face the winner of the West Region. That tournament field is being played on the campus of Seattle Pacific University and also includes Cal State-Dominguez Hills, Cal State-Los Angeles and Chico State (Calif.).
 
The NCAA Division II Final Four is set for Dec. 1-3 in Pensacola, Fla.
 
MSU IN THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
 
 Midwestern State is making its sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship field and its eighth showing in the last 10 seasons.
 
The Mustangs have racked up an 11-4-3 (.694) postseason mark during the Doug Elder era (since 2000) advancing to the national quarterfinals five times including two trips to the Final Four in 2007 and 2010.
 
MSU is 4-2-1 on the opponent's home pitch during the NCAA Division II postseason play with both losses coming in the national quarterfinal round - Sonoma State (2002) and Cal State-Dominguez Hills (2008).
 
THE MATCHUP
 
Midwestern State and Incarnate Word has split its meetings this season.
 
The Cardinals snapped MSU's 36-match regular season unbeaten streak taking a 1-0 result over the Mustangs on Sep. 16 at Benson Stadium. UIW's Max Gunderson tallied the lone goal of the contest on a cross from Jesus Cortez in the 30th minute.
 
Midwestern State rallied to whip the 4th-ranked Cardinals 3-0 with goals by Sam Broadbent, Chris Dwyer and Zach Funk on Oct. 21 at the MSU Soccer Field.
 
The Mustangs have gotten the better of Incarnate Word by winning all four postseason meetings between the elite programs.
 
Midwestern owns a 21-14-5 edge in its all-time series with the Cardinals.