CANYON, Texas -- No. 23-ranked Midwestern State dominated the opening half and had the answer when it needed it the most in a 2-1 win over West Texas A&M Thursday night at The Pitch in Canyon.
 
"We played some great soccer in the first half," MSU coach Doug Elder said. "I was proud that the defense played strong, but I was a little disappointed with the goal. I felt we were better team tonight. We are happy to win and keep our playoff chances alive."
 
Midwestern, which was ranked second in this week's NCAA Division II South Central Region, looks to avenge a loss to Eastern New Mexico when it takes on the Greyhounds Saturday in Portales. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
 
ENMU claimed a 2-1 victory over the Mustangs Monday night in Wichita Falls.
 
It was a much different story in Canyon as the Mustangs held WT without a shot prior to intermission and drew first blood on junior midfielder Ben Clarvis' first tally of the season.
 
"Benji overlapped his run and carried the ball 50 yards and buried it behind the keeper," Elder said.
 
The strike in the eighth minute of the contest held up until WT's Christian Suthers served up the equalizer in the 63rd minute for the Buffs.
 
West Texas A&M's joy lasted all of about 18 seconds as senior midfielder Andrew Power hit a sprinting Kyle Baccus off the ensuing kickoff.
 
"Andrew served it through on the kickoff and (Kyle) just buried the first time running through the box," Elder said. "That's how you responded when you give up a goal. They started to press in the end and we were able to create some really good chances but their keeper made some great saves."
 
The win pulled the Mustangs to within 5-3 in the Highway 287 Challenge Cup series as men's soccer supplied two of the three MSU points.
 
Midwestern State improved to 12-3-2 while claiming its fourth straight win over the Buffs, who dropped to 8-6-1.