Midwestern State vs. Texas-Permian Basin
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014 | 7 p.m.
UTPB Soccer Field | Odessa, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (6-1-1); Texas-Permian Basin (1-4-1)
Live Video: None
Live Stats: None
 
ON THE PITCH
Midwestern State kicks off a stretch of four of five road matches Thursday night against Texas-Permian Basin at the UTPB Soccer Field. Start time is slated for 7 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
- Texas-Permian Basin has dropped its last four matches by a total goal margin of 13-4 with the last three on the Falcons' home pitch.
- UTPB opened the campaign with a 3-3 draw against University of the Southwest (N.M.) before edging Adams State (Colo.) 2-1 in Alamosa.
- Junior goalkeeper Eric Beltran leads NCAA Division II in saves per game (8.0), but has let in 18 goals in six games for a 2.96 goals against average.
- Nathan Cotterell leads the Falcons attack with four goals and accounted for 20 of UTPB's 36 shots. The junior forward from Nantwich, England fired in two goals in a 2-1 win over Adams State and recorded two more goals in a 6-3 defeat to Lubbock Christian.
- Junior defender Gary Willis scored two of the Falcons' three goals in a 3-3 draw with University of the Southwest (N.M.).
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Texas-Permian Basin meet for the fourth time on the pitch Thursday night at the UTPB Soccer Field.
- The Mustangs own a 3-0 advantage in the series which dates back to the 2007 season.
- MSU has outscored the Falcons 17-0 overall in the series claiming a 5-0 victory in the last meeting on Sept. 23, 2011 in Odessa.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State had its six-game winning streak snapped by settling for a 1-1 draw Sunday against St. Edward's.
- The Mustangs are unbeaten in their last seven matches after taking a 4-2 season opening setback at Fort Lewis (Colo.).
- MSU has held a lead in each of its eight matches this season.
- Midwestern is unbeaten in its last 10 home games dating back to a 2-1 loss to St. Edward's on Sept. 20, 2013.
- Senior midfielder Andrew Power (Waterford, Ireland / St. Paul's Secondary (Northern Iowa ACC)) converted his third penalty kick of the season in the 77th minute Sunday against St. Edward's.
- Power has tallied goals in each of his last three matches and has scored goals in seven of MSU's games this season including two-goal performances against Fort Lewis and Lubbock Christian.
- Power ranks second in NCAA Division II in total goals with nine and is 10th in the nation in goals per game (1.13).
- Sophomore midfielder Paul Sunderland (Manchester, England / Wright Robinson Secondary) has been a reliable set-up man standing second in the country with six assists.
- Junior goalkeeper Nick Petolick (Frisco, Texas / Wakeland HS (Oral Roberts)) recorded his fourth clean sheet of the campaign in a 3-0 win Friday night over Texas A&M International. It was his 13th career shutout while improving to 16-2-3 in between the posts.
- Redshirt-freshman Michael Klodzinski (Dallas, Texas / Dallas Lutheran HS) tallied his first collegiate goal in MSU's 3-0 win over Texas A&M International last Friday.
 
THE DOUG ELDER ERA
- Doug Elder is in his 15th season at the helm of Midwestern State.
- Elder remains NCAA Division II winningest active coach in terms of percentage at 212-48-27 (.786).
- Elder is a six-time NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year (2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011).
- Elder's teams have advanced to the NCAA Division II postseason nine times while making five national quarterfinal appearances twice advancing to the Final Four.
- Elder needs 10 wins to overtake Howard Patterson (221-85-20 from 1973-89) as the program's all-time leader in coaching wins.
 
NEXT UP
Midwestern State continues on the road to take on Dallas Baptist Monday at the Patriot Soccer Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.