WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State flipped the script on Central Oklahoma following a productive halftime session Tuesday night at the MSU Soccer Field.
 
"There was a lot of talk from the upperclassmen at halftime," MSU coach Jeff Trimble said. "They were very focused on being positive and really trying to attack the goal."
 
What resulted was a two-goal explosion by starting striker Ashley Cottrell in a 10-minute span early in the second half keying a 3-1 come-from-behind win to the Mustangs, who improve to 5-3 on the season.
 
"It was getting to the point of a lot of frustration," Trimble said. "We generated good opportunities in the last game and we really didn't get a good result. Then tonight in the first, we did the same thing and didn't get a good result."
 
The Mustangs were coming off of a 1-0 LSC opening loss to Angelo State last Thursday after tallying nine goals over a three-game winning streak. MSU has now notched 12 goals over a five-game stretch.
 
"We're capable of doing that. We've just got to concentrate on creating good opportunities and things will happen," Trimble said. "We can't count on three goals (all the time), but we can certainly count on working hard."
 
Central Oklahoma controlled much of the run of play in the opening half holding a 10-5 shot edge before finally breaking through with a goal by Emily Hahn in the 37th minute of the contest.
 
But the Mustangs appeared to sort it all out at the break coming at the Bronchos for the equalizer in the 50th minute.
 
"(Sophomore) Kensli (Pounds) dribbled it down and the last defender went towards her, so I went around and called for it. She played me in and I shot the ball," Cottrell said. "I think it really boosted our confidence to get that first goal to tie it up. It made everyone push harder to get that second goal. We all worked together really well."
 
MSU took the lead after Cottrell was pulled down from the behind in the box by UCO's Chandler Murphy in the 59th minute. She regained composure to calmly knock in her team-high fifth goal of the season.
 
The Mustangs continued to dominate the run of play throughout the second half finally putting the match away when sophomore midfielder Morgan Hannon finished a nice feed on through ball from Callie Briseno in the 89th minute for her second goal of the season.
 
The MSU back line limited the Bronchos to just a pair of shots on goal despite playing without senior leader Anna Molen due to injury as freshman Haley Britton moved in alongside fellow frosh Katie Huff at the center back positions.
 
"They are both somewhat quiet girls," Trimble said. "I think they grew up and learned they can help dictate what's going to happen in there. They played smart, good soccer tonight."
 
Midwestern State plays its first two league road matches this weekend taking on Texas Woman's Friday night at 8 p.m. in Denton before squaring off with No. 24 Texas A&M-Commerce Sunday at 2 p.m.