Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Commerce
Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 | 7 p.m.
A&M-Commerce Soccer Field | Commerce, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (6-2-5, 1-2-2); Texas A&M-Commerce (8-4, 3-2)
Video: None
Live Stats: LionAthletics.com  
 
Midwestern State vs. Texas Woman's
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014 | 2 p.m.
TWU Soccer Field | Denton, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (6-2-5, 1-2-2); Texas Woman's (7-5-1, 1-3-1)
Video: TWUAthletics.com 
Live Stats: TWUAthletics.com  
 
ON THE PITCH
Midwestern State faces a pair of critical Lone Star Conference road matches this weekend beginning with Friday night's contest at Texas A&M-Commerce. The Mustangs close the weekend Sunday against Texas Woman's.
 
ABOUT THE LIONS
- Texas A&M-Commerce recovered from consecutive losses to West Texas A&M and Angelo State by claiming wins over Midwestern State and Texas Woman's to move up into a tie for second in the Lone Star Conference championship race.
- Sophomore forward Savannah Henderson leads the LSC with 10 goals this season while boasting five two-goal performances. She tallied both of A&M-Commerce's goals in a 2-1 win at Wichita Falls.
- Junior forward Jade Bell is the Lions' top playmaker boasting four goals and five assists.
- Henderson and Bell have combined for 70 percent of A&M-C's scoring output.
- Junior goalkeeper Courtnie Northern leads the LSC with a .898, but has had to stop 79 shots through 12 games. She ranks third in the league in goals against average (0.73) and shutouts (4).
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets Texas A&M-Commerce for the 32nd time on the pitch Friday night at the A&M-Commerce Soccer Field.
- The Mustangs own a 17-10-4 edge in the series which dates back to the 1995 season.
- MSU is 9-7-1 all time against the Lions in Commerce and is 7-2-1 versus A&M-C since the start of the 2009 season.
 
ABOUT THE PIONEERS
- Texas Woman's rolls into the weekend on a three-match losing streak and has not found the win column since taking a 4-0 decision over Oklahoma Christian on Sept. 30.
- The Pioneers have not scored in the last 279 minutes of game time with their last tally coming off of the head of Gabrielle Larson in the 82nd minute at Midwestern State on Oct. 3.
- Sophomore forward Natalia Diaz ranks second in the Lone Star Conference with 1.77 points per game as she leads TWU in goals (9) and assists (5).
- Diaz has placed 24 of her 42 shots on goal (.571) while accounting for three game winners.
- Diaz has been held scoreless in each of her last five games after netting nine goals in a seven-match span from Sept. 6-28.
- Sophomore midfielder Gabrielle Larson has accounted for six goals, while sophomore forward Nancy Chavez is a proven playmaker with four goals and four assists.
- Junior goalkeeper Ariana Morrison boasts a 0.78 goals against average while posting two clean sheets.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets Texas Woman's for the 17th time Sunday afternoon at the TSU Soccer Field.
- The Mustangs own a commanding 11-2-3 edge in the series which dates back to the 2002 season.
- Midwestern is 4-1-2 all time against the Pioneers in Denton.
- The Mustangs are 7-0-2 in their last nine meetings with TWU. The Pioneers last win came in 2008 (2-1).
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State split a pair of Lone Star Conference road matches taking a 3-1 win over Eastern New Mexico on Friday before falling to West Texas A&M 2-1 on Sunday.
- The Mustangs claimed their first league win Friday at Eastern New Mexico, but currently stand fifth in the LSC with points.
- Freshman Destinee Williamson (Bedford, Texas / Trinity HS) notched two goals and dished out an assist last weekend.
- Williamson leads the team with seven goals and is second on the side with four assists.
- Williamson ranks second in the LSC in shots per game (3.54), fifth in goals per game (0.54) and points per game (1.38).
- Senior midfielder Katy Catney (Wichita Falls, Texas / Rider HS) knocked in her second goal of the season and added an assist Friday night at Eastern New Mexico.
- Catney is now tied for the league lead in assists with five.
- Freshman goalkeeper Courtney Burnette (Irving, Texas / MacArthur HS) leads NCAA Division II in minutes played (1277:54), is 20th in total saves (75) and 49th in goals against average (0.70).
 
THE CLARKE ERA BEGINS
- Damian Clarke is in his eighth overall season as a head coach boasting the 11th best winning percentage amongst NCAA Division II coaches at 112-33-21 (.738).
- Clarke led Fort Lewis to NCAA playoff appearances in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013 as the Skyhawks advanced to the Elite Eight in 2010.
- Clarke is a three-time NSCAA Central Region and RMAC Coach of the Year.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State returns to Wichita Falls to close the regular season on a three-match home stand. The Mustangs take on West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico next weekend before closing the campaign the following Friday against Angelo State.