MSU Men's Soccer Weekly

No. 23 Midwestern State begins its push for a seventh consecutive trip to the postseason Friday night against NAIA Houston-Victoria. The Mustangs then hit the road for a Sunday tilt at Ouachita Baptist. 

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

HOUSTON-VICTORIA 
// Friday, 10.12.2012 // 6:30 p.m. // MSU Soccer Field // Wichita Falls, Texas
Live Stats | No Streaming Video

Houston-Victoria (5-6-0) brings a two-game winning streak into Friday night's match at the MSU Soccer Field. The Jaguars rallied from a 2-1 deficit to upend Lubbock Christian on Sep. 17 before digging their way out of two-goal hole to claim a 3-2 result in double overtime over NAIA No. 22 Oklahoma City on their home pitch. UHV will see its first game action in three weeks Friday night in Wichita Falls. Sophomore forward Adrian Mendoza paces the Jaguars' attack with six goals and junior forward Stiven Ospina has accounted for four tallies while freshman defender Hector Ramirez, sophomore midfielder Hector Gonzalez and junior midfielder Jose Aguero have scored two goals each. Freshman goalkeeper Bradley Abrahamsen has permitted a  2.20 goals against average with a .600 save percentage in 10 games this season. 
All-Time Series: First meeting. 
 

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OUACHITA BAPTIST 
// Sunday, 10.14.2012 // 1 p.m. // OBU Field // Arkadelphia, Ark. 
No Live Stats  |  No Streaming Video

Ouachita Baptist (7-6-0) rides a three-match winning streak into games against Lone Star Conference powers West Texas A&M and Midwestern State this weekend at the OBU Soccer Field. The Tigers have erupted for 11 goals since suffering consecutive shutouts to nationally ranked sides in Lindenwood (Mo.), MSU and Incarnate Word from Sep. 16-28. Senior midfielder Rizvan Ceka has scored three of his team-high five goals in wins over Harding (Ark.) and Delta State (Miss.) while senior midfielder Payam Pourjavad has tallied four times this season. Senior midfielder J.T. Goodrum and senior midfielder Clayton Case have accounted three goals each. Primary goalkeeper David Henley permits a 1.61 goals against average with a .714 save percentage in nine starts this season. 
Previous Meeting (9/23): MSU junior forward VcMor Eligwe scored two goals and senior midfielder David Freeland notched a goal and two assists to lead the Mustangs to a dominating 6-0 win over Ouachita Baptist at the MSU Soccer Field. Sophomore goalkeeper Nathan Kenyon made one save to preserve his first clean sheet as a Mustang. 
All-Time Series: Midwestern State leads series, 2-0.

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ABOUT THE MUSTANGS

Midwestern State (6-1-3) ride a four-match unbeaten streak into a pair of weekend contests, but a pair of second-half goals allowed Northeastern State to escape the MSU Soccer Field with a 2-2 draw last Sunday just when the Mustangs appeared destined for a fourth-straight victory. Sophomore forward Len Smith has scored in his last three outings and leads the MSU attack with six goals this season. Junior striker VcMor Eligwe adds five goals and three assists while junior midfielder Aaron Douthit pitches in three goals and three assists. Sophomore midfielder Andrew Power has come on to account for two goals and three assists. Junior goalkeeper Ray Clark allows a 0.79 goals against average with a .800 save percentage and four shutouts in seven starts as the Mustangs' primary goalkeeper. Sophomore reserve Nathan Kenyon has notched clean sheets in two of his three starts. MSU tallies 2.20 goals per game and allows 0.70. 

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NOTEWORTHY
 

• The Mustangs improved one spot to No. 23 in the latest NSCAA Division II Poll.
• The Mustangs have appeared in 72 of the last 73 NSCAA national polls in which they were eligible dating back to the 2006 season.
• MSU has scored multiple goals in each of its last five matches after tallying six goals in its opening five games... Midwestern surrendered a two-goal advantage Sunday against Northeastern State for the first time since Eastern New Mexico rallied to tie a match 2-2 on Nov. 5, 2010 in Portales, but David Freeland scored the game winner in the 86th minute to all MSU to escape two seasons ago.
• It was the first time MSU surrendered a two-goal lead on its home pitch since Colorado State-Pueblo tallied two second half goals for a 2-2 draw on Oct. 5, 2001.
• Junior forward VcMor Eligwe tallied goals against Southern Nazarene and Northeastern State to join Midwestern's 50-Point Club with 19 goals and 12 assists.
• Sophomore forward Len Smith has tallied goals in three consecutive games and has scored five of his team-leading six goals over his last five matches.
• Eligwe (5 goals, 3 assists) and Smith (6 goals, 1 assist) lead MSU's 39th-ranked scoring offense with 13 points each.
• Sophomore midfielder Andrew Power accounted for a goal and an assist in Friday's 3-1 win over Southern Nazarene then assisted on a goal Sunday against Northeastern State.
• Midwestern permitted goals in consecutive matches for the first time this season against Southern Nazarene (1) and Northeastern State (2).
• MSU ranks fifth in NCAA Division II with a 0.60 shutout percentage.