Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M International
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 | 5 p.m.
Dustdevil Field | Laredo, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (10-2-2); Texas A&M International (8-6-1)
Video: GoDustdevils.com  
Live Stats: GoDustdevils.com 
 
Midwestern State vs. Eastern New Mexico
Monday, Oct. 27, 2014 | 7 p.m.
MSU Soccer Field | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (10-2-2); Eastern New Mexico (5-5-3)
Video: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com  
 
ON THE PITCH
Midwestern State hits the road to take on Texas A&M International Saturday afternoon in Laredo before returning to the MSU Soccer Field for the Mustangs' home finale Monday against Eastern New Mexico.
 
SCOUTING THE DUSTDEVILS
- Texas A&M International had its three-match winning streak snapped with a 1-0 defeat to West Texas A&M Thursday night in Laredo.
- The Dustdevils are playing their sixth consecutive match at home, but are currently 3-2 on the home stand with losses to Lubbock Christian and West Texas A&M.
- TAMIU suffered its third shutout of the season Thursday against West Texas A&M. MSU and Rogers State also kept clean sheets against the Dustdevils earlier this season.
- The defending Heartland Conference champs are currently third in the lead with a 4-2 mark behind St. Edward's (4-1), Lubbock Christian (4-1) and are tied with St. Mary's (4-2).
- Senior midfielder Jovani Macias paces the TAMIU attack with eight goals while dishing out two assists. He has accounted for five goals on the current home stand including a hat trick against Texas-Permian Basin.
- Sophomore forward Ryan Hodgson has accounted for five goals in his 13 matches this season, but has not appeared in TAMIU's last two outings.
- Junior forward Eduardo Gonzalez had a string of four consecutive games with a goal snapped Thursday against West Texas A&M.
- Former MSU reserve goalkeeper Salomon Moctezuma boasts a 7-5 mark with a 1.66 goals against average while posting a 0.68 save percentage for the Dustdevils.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Texas A&M International meet for the 12th time on the pitch Saturday afternoon in Laredo.
- The Mustangs hold a 9-0-2 overall advantage in the series which dates back to the 2008 season.
- MSU is 3-0-1 all time against the Dustdevils in Laredo.
- The Mustangs have posted shutouts in 10 of their 11 meetings with TAMIU with the Dustdevils lone goals coming in a 3-2 MSU win last season in Wichita Falls.
- Midwestern has outscored Texas A&M International 18-2 throughout the series.
 
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
- Eastern New Mexico rides a six-match unbeaten streak into Monday night's match against Midwestern State.
- The Greyhounds are 4-0-2 during the streak which includes draws against Lubbock Christian and West Texas A&M.
- The unbeaten stretch came on the heels of a five-match winless skid (0-4-1) from Sept. 9-25.
- Senior midfielder Abeyneh Crosby leads the ENMU attack with four goals and three assists. He scored in four consecutive games from Sept. 25-Oct. 2.
- Sophomore forward Ryan McManus and freshman defender Gil Munoz boast three goals each, while sophomore midfielder Jose Hernandez is the team's top playmaker with five assists.
- Redshirt-freshman goalkeeper James Gutierrez has shutouts in three of its last five matches to lower his season goals against average to 0.94
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets Eastern New Mexico for the 22nd time on the pitch Monday night at the MSU Soccer Field.
- The Mustangs own a commanding 17-1-3 mark in the series which dates back to the 2004 season.
- MSU is 10-0-1 all time against the Greyhounds in Wichita Falls with the lone draw coming last season.
- Midwestern State and ENMU have played to draws in three of the last four meetings.
- Eastern New Mexico's lone win of the series came in a 2-1 results on Oct. 7, 2011 in Portales.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State heads into the final four matches of the regular season ranked fourth in the latest NCAA Division II South Central Region Rankings behind St. Edward's, Colorado Mesa and Regis (Colo.). The top four qualify for postseason play.
- MSU notched its 16th consecutive season with at least 10 wins by taking a 4-0 result over Southwestern Christian (Okla.) Tuesday night at the MSU Soccer Field.
- With a win over Eastern New Mexico Monday night, the Mustangs would clinch the ninth unbeaten season at the MSU Soccer Field. It would be the fifth time the Mustangs achieved the feat since the start of the 2008 season and the sixth time a Doug Elder-coached team went unbeaten at  home (2002, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). It was accomplished only three other times before then (1979, 1981, 1991).
- Senior forward Len Smith (Baton Rouge, La. / Wakeland HS (Tulsa)) scored what is believed to be the quickest goal in MSU history nine seconds into the contest Tuesday against Southwestern Christian.
- Smith's two goals Tuesday against Southwestern Christian earned him the 38th admission into MSU's 50-Point Club with 24 goals and five assists over the past three seasons (53 points).
- Senior midfielder Andrew Power (Waterford, Ireland / St. Paul's Secondary (Northern Iowa ACC)) needs three points to become the 39th member of the prestigious group. He has 19 goals and nine assists for 47 points.
- Smith's 24 goals rank him tied for 22nd on MSU's all-time list with former teammate VcMor Eligwe (2010-13), Tom Fazekas (1979, 82) and Majid Mosavat (1982-83).
- Power ranks 15th in NCAA Division II in total goals (11.0) and is 22nd in goals per game (0.79).
- Junior midfielder Ben Clarvis (Newton Abbot, England / Torquay Boys Grammar) notched his team-best seven assists Tuesday against Southwestern Christian. He rates 17th nationally in both total assists (7.0) and assists per game (0.54).
Junior goalkeeper Nick Petolick (Frisco, Texas / Wakeland HS (Oral Roberts)) notched his 16th career shutout  Tuesday night against Southwestern Christian to move past Chris Robinson (15.5 shutouts form 1994-97) and into third place on MSU's all time list. He needs one to match David Stockton (17 from 2001-04) for second. Raul Herrera tops the list with 21 (2005, 09-10).
 
HOME FIELD MYSTIQUE
- Midwestern State owns a 57-3-6 mark (.909) at the MSU Soccer Field since the start of the 2008 season.
- The Mustangs boasted a 44-match unbeaten streak stretching from the 2007 postseason into the 2012 season.
- MSU is currently on a 12-match home unbeaten streak since taking a 2-1 loss in double overtime to St. Edward's on Sept. 20, 2013.
 
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 216-49-28 (.785).
- 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 six wins to overtake Howard Patterson (221-85-20 from 1973-89) as the program's all-time leader in coaching wins.
 
UP NEXT
- Midwestern State closes the regular season next weekend with a pair of road contests beginning Friday night at West Texas A&M before returning the favor to Eastern New Mexico Sunday in Portales.