Midwestern State vs. Western State Colorado
Friday, Sep. 12, 2014 | 7:30 p.m.
MSU Soccer Field | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (0-0-2); Western State Colorado (2-0)
Live Video: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com 
 
Midwestern State vs. Southwestern Oklahoma
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014 | 1 p.m.
SWOSU Soccer Field | Weatherford, Okla.
Records: Midwestern State (0-0-2); Southwestern Oklahoma (0-1-1)
Live Video: None
Live Stats: SWOSUsports.com 
 
ON THE PITCH
Midwestern State takes on Western State Colorado in its home opener Friday evening at the MSU Soccer Field before closing the weekend at Southwestern Oklahoma State Sunday afternoon in Weatherford.
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
- Western State Colorado rolled to season opening wins over Eastern New Mexico (2-0) and Rogers State (Okla.) (4-0) last weekend in Denver.
- Freshman forward Francesca Rand netted her first two collegiate goals in Sunday's win over Rogers State (Okla.). It was her first start for the Mountaineers.
- It was a freshman onslaught for WSCU as frosh Bridget Schaefer, Jessica Kresi, Nicole Giebler and Paige Massey all added to the score line in their opening two games.
- WSCU freshman have accounted for all but one of the Mountaineers' six tallies this season. That was netted by sophomore Emily Burton.
- Western State Colorado is entering its third year of play as the Mountaineers posted a 1-14 in their inaugural season of 2012 and went 6-10-2 last season.
- Jeremy Clevenger enters his third season at the helm for Western State Colorado.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
Midwestern State and Western State Colorado meet for the first time the pitch Friday night at the MSU Soccer Field.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
- Two-time defending Great American Conference champion Southwestern Oklahoma State took a loss (Minnesota State-Mankato -- 1-0) and earned a draw (Minot State -- 1-1) last weekend at the SWOSU Soccer Field.
- Freshman midfielder Olivia Butler tallied SWOSU's lone goal of the weekend giving the Bulldogs an early lead in the 14th minute Sunday afternoon against Minot State.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Courtney Flores earned GAC Player of the Week honors letting in two goals in 18 shots (.889 save percentage) while posting a 0.90 goals against average. Flores earned first-team All-GAC honors last season also taking freshman of the year honors.
- Southwestern Oklahoma is coming off its first two winning seasons in program history rolling to a 20-1-1 mark in 2012 making its first NCAA Division II postseason appearance. The Bulldogs followed the performance up with a 13-4-2 campaign in 2013.
- Mark Persson is in fifth season as head coach posting a 53-37-9 mark (.581).
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Southwestern Oklahoma meet for the 16th time on the pitch Sunday afternoon in Weatherford.
- The Mustangs own a commanding 14-1 edge in the series that backs to the 2013 season.
- MSU has never lost in seven trips to Weatherford last besting the Bulldogs 1-0 on their home pitch on Oct. 23, 2009.
- Morgan Hannon and Kensli Pounds providing the scoring the last meeting giving MSU a 2-0 victory in its final home game of the 2013 season.
 
HOME OPENERS
- Midwestern State is 13-5-1 all time in home openers at the MSU Soccer Field.
- The Mustangs look to reverse the trend after dropping its first home contests in each of the last two seasons falling to Fort Lewis 3-0 in 2012 and to Abilene Christian 1-0 in 2013.
 
THE CLARKE ERA BEGINS
- Damian Clarke opened his first season at Midwestern State by taking two results last weekend in Durango as the Mustangs earned draws with RMAC foes Colorado Mesa (2-2) and Fort Lewis (0-0).
- Clarke enters his eighth overall season as a head coach boasting the 11th best winning percentage amongst NCAA Division II coaches at 106-31-19 (.740).
- Clarke led Fort Lewis to NCAA playoff appearances in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 as the Skyhawks advanced to the Elite Eight in 2010.
- Clarke is a three-time NSCAA Central Region and RMAC Coach of the Year.
 
NOTABLES
- Redshirt-freshman Courtney Burnette notched her first collegiate clean sheet making 12 saves in 110 minutes in goal against Fort Lewis after posting 10 saves against Colorado Mesa.
- Sophomore forward Nicole Coetzer put Midwestern on the board for the first time in the 2014 season with a goal in the 13th minute Thursday afternoon against Colorado Mesa. It was her second career tally.
- Sophomore midfielder Alyssa Parkhill netted her first collegiate goal in the 36th minute against Colorado Mesa tapping in a rebound off of junior Stephanie Bonilla's shot to give MSU a 2-1 lead.
- The Mustangs went to 12-7-1 in season openers.