KICKOFF
No. 7-ranked Midwestern State takes on Regis (Colo.) with the South Central Region championship on the line Friday afternoon at the Regis Soccer Pitch. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (Central Time).
 

---

#7 Midwestern State at Regis (Colo.)
Friday, Nov. 22 | 2 p.m.
Regis Soccer Pitch | Denver, Colo.
Records: Midwestern State (12-3-1); Regis (13-3-1)
Live Video: None
Live Audio: RegisRangers.com  
Live Stats: RegisRangers.com 
 
SCOUTING THE RANGERS
Regis (Colo.) suffered a 2-1 double overtime setback to Colorado Mesa in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title game last time out. The defeat snapped a five-match winning streak for the Rangers. RU's dynamic forward combination of junior Martin Maybin and senior Mark Kelly have accounted for 30 of the Rangers' 44 goals this season. Mayben, who hails from Belfast, Ireland, ranks fourth in NCAA Division II in total goals (19), points per game (2.61) and total points (47.0) while standing 14th in total assists (9.0) and 17th in assists per game (0.5). Kelly, who is from Antrim, Northern Ireland, also ranks among national leaders with 13 goals and seven assists. junior midfielder Arnthor Kristinsson (6 goals, 3 assists) and sophomore Jacob Martinez (2 goals, 2 assists) are the only other Rangers to account for multiple goals this season as the Rangers boast NCAA Division II's 12th best scoring attack with 2.56 goals per game. Freshman Connor Adkisson has posted an 8-2-1 mark with a 1.21 goals against average and .803 save percentage as the primary goalkeeper for Regis. The Rangers have posted three clean sheets in 17 outings.
 
COMMON OPPONENTS
Midwestern State and Regis have faced three common opponents this season -- all out of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference -- including Colorado State-Pueblo, Fort Lewis and Colorado Mines. Against Colorado State-Pueblo: MSU defeated the Thunderwolves 4-1 on Sep. 13 in Pueblo, while Regis defeated them a week later by a 3-1 margin. Against Fort Lewis: MSU suffered a season opening 3-1 loss to the Skyhawks in Wichita Falls. Regis took two of three including a 3-2 win at home on 9/29, a 1-0 loss in Durango on 10/20 and edged FLC 3-2 in the RMAC semifinals on 11/8 in Denver. Against Colorado Mines: MSU avenged a 1-0 early season loss to CSM by eliminating the Orediggers last week in Wichita Falls in the second round of the NCAA II Playoffs. Regis defeated Colorado Mines 2-1 on 10/27 in Denver.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
Midwestern State and Regis meet for the 11th time on the pitch Friday afternoon in Denver. The Mustangs own a 7-3 all-time edge in the series which dates back to the 1985 season and has won the last four meetings. The programs have split the four matches played in Denver. This will be the first postseason meeting between the teams.
 
LAST TIME OUT VS. REGIS
Nick Auditore scored twice while Jake Landon, Nathan Fitzgerald and Tex McCullough all tallied second-half goals as No. 21 Midwestern State rolled to a 5-0 win over Regis on Sep. 6, 2009 at the MSU Soccer Field. The Mustangs dominated for a 22-2 shot advantage as the Rangers were unable to place a shot on frame.
 

---

ABOUT THE NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS
The NCAA Division II continues with third- and quarterfinal round matchups this weekend at campus sites. The South Central and West regions collide at the Regis Soccer Pitch Friday and Sunday. UC-San Diego and Simon Fraser battle for the West Region title Friday at 11 a.m., while MSU and Regis slug it out for the South Central championship at 2 p.m. The winners advance to a national quarterfinal matchup Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. The survivor earns a berth in the NCAA Division II Final Four set for Dec. 5-7 in Evans, Ga.
 
MSU IN NCAA POSTSEASON PLAY
Midwestern State is making its ninth appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs -- all since the 2002 season and all during the Doug Elder era. The Mustangs boast an 12-6-3 overall mark in the postseason which includes two runs to the Final Four (2007, 2010) and five national quarterfinal appearances (2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010). Midwestern is 3-2-1 on the opponents' home field during that stretch with losses coming to Incarnate Word in 2011 and Cal State-Dominguez Hills in 2008. The Mustangs are 5-0-1 in regional final matchups and 1-3-1 in national quarterfinal contests.
 
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
Midwestern State rides a 13-game unbeaten streak into the postseason posting a 11 wins during the run with two scoreless draws against Eastern New Mexico during the stretch. The Mustangs struggled out of the gate this season falling in three of its first four games taking defeats to Fort Lewis (Colo.), Colorado Mines and St. Edward's.  Junior forward Len Smith paces the Midwestern attack with eight goals and two assists while sophomore Idi Camara has come on strong for four goals and four assists. Junior forward Dan Johns gives the Mustangs a solid second options with five goals while junior midfielder Andrew Power has also scored five times. Sophomore goalkeeper Nick Petolick played a key role during MSU's playoff push posting a 10-0-2 mark during his 12 starts with nine shutouts while carrying a 0.24 goals against average and a .945 save percentage. Midwestern State scores 2.00 goals per game and allows 0.71.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Junior midfielder Andrew Power gathered in a rebound off of a header by Kalen Ryden to score the only goal in a 1-0 win over Colorado Mines in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs last weekend in Wichita Falls. Sophomore goalkeeper Nick Petolick made four saves to notch his ninth shutout of the season.
 
IN THE RANKINGS
Midwestern State ranked 7th in the final regular season poll released last week by the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America. The Mustangs have spent 47 reporting periods ranked in the Top 10 since the start of the 2006 campaign. Simon Fraser (B.C.) rated 12th and UC-San Diego was 17th in the poll while Regis was unranked.
 
ELDER IS ACTIVE WINNINGEST COACH IN NCAA II
Midwestern State's Doug Elder remains the active winningest coach in NCAA Division II boasting a 206-46-26 mark (.788) in his 14th season at the helm of the Mustangs. Elder is a six-time NSCAA Region Coach of the Year and led MSU to 10-or-more wins in each of the last 14 years.
 
MIDWESTERN IN NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Sophomore goalkeeper Nick Petolick leads NCAA Division II in goals against average (0.173) and save percentage (.962) and is 63rd in saves per game (4.55). Junior Chase Robertson rates 46th in assists per game (0.43) and is 75th in total assists (6.0). Junior forward Len Smith ranks 95th in total goals (8.0) and 98th in goals per game (0.47).