MSU MEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY

Midwestern State (8-2-4, 0-2-1) plays to keep its slim NCAA Division II postseason chances alive Friday night against No. 7 Incarnate Word. Kickoff from Benson Stadium in San Antonio is set for 7:30 p.m.
 

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MSU FAST FIVE

MUSTANGS CRACK SOUTH CENTRAL RANKINGS: MSU entered the NCAA Division II South Central Region rankings for the first time this season at No. 5. Only top three teams advance to the playoffs which begin on campus sites on Nov. 8. Currently the Mustangs are behind Regis (Colo.) (13-0-1), Incarnate Word (11-2-0), West Texas A&M (9-2-2) and Colorado Mines (10-3-2). MSU has advanced to the postseason in each of the last six seasons including Final Four showings in 2007 and 2010.

MIDWESTERN DROPS OUT OF NSCAA TOP 25: The Mustangs dropped out of the NSCAA Division II Top 25 for the second time this season after playing Eastern New Mexico to a 1-1 draw on Friday and falling 2-1 in two overtimes to West Texas A&M on Sunday. Still, MSU has appeared in 73 of the last 75 NSCAA polls in which it was eligible dating back to the 2006 season.

DRAW, DRAW OR DRAW: Midwestern's four draws are the most in a season since the 2002 squad played to four ties on the way to an NCAA Division II national quarterfinal. That team finished the season with a 14-1-4 mark. No Midwestern State team has played to five draws in a season.

ON LEADS AND GOALS: The Mustangs have held leads in each of their two losses this season and have also led in draws to Northeastern State and Eastern New Mexico. MSU has permitted goals in each of its last six matches after recording shutouts in six of its first eight matches of the season.

ELIGWE POINTS IN FIVE STRAIGHT: Junior forward VcMor Eligwe recorded an assist in Friday's draw at Eastern New Mexico to extend a streak of scoring a point in five consecutive matches. Eligwe had scored goals in four-straight games going into last weekend's play.
 

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SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

INCARNATE WORD
// Friday, 10.26.2012 // 7:30 p.m. // Benson Stadium // San Antonio, Texas
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The Cardinals (11-2, 4-0) reeled off 11 consecutive wins after suffering season opening losses to Fort Lewis (2-1) and Colorado Mines (3-2). UIW has tallied goals in each of its 13 matches this season and is outscoring the opposition by a 3.23 to 1.00 margin per game. Junior midfielder Vincent Bailey leads the way with 14 goals and six assists while sophomore midfielder Alex de la Garza and junior defender Josh Ferona add four goals each. Five other players account for multiple goals for the Cardinals this season. Junior goalkeeper Jarred Kahan allows 1.07 goals against average while posting a .707 save percentage with five shutouts this season.
Previous Meeting (9/21): Midwestern State carried a lead into the 89th minute but UIW's Vincent Bailey completed a hat trick by notching the equalizing goal and then banged in a breakaway tally in the 106th minute to carry the Cardinals to a 3-2 win. Sophomore forward Len Smith scored twice for Midwestern.
All-Time Series: Midwestern State leads 21-16-5.