WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- No. 18 Midwestern State shook off a strong opening half challenge before burying Texas A&M International 3-0 to claim its sixth straight win Friday night at the MSU Soccer Field.
 
"The first half was a great game as we had two teams battling it out," MSU coach Doug Elder said. "They took to us for the first 25 minutes and they kind of wore down a little bit. The momentum really shifted in the last 10 minutes."
 
Then the Mustangs turned the game quickly after intermission drawing first blood on Andrew Power's eighth goal of the season.
 
The senior midfielder from Waterford, Ireland hustled for a rebound off of the crossbar in the 50th minute to chip in yet another goal in what has been a superb start to the campaign. Power has provided goals in all but one of MSU's seven matches this season.
 
Redshirt freshman Michael Klodzinski drove in his first collegiate goal just five minutes later as the Dallas native stormed down the left wing taking a pass from the center of the field by Ben Clarvis. He beat the keeper high off of the cross bar and into the net to give the Mustangs a commanding two-goal advantage 55 minutes into the contest.
 
"I was really proud of the way we came out in the second half. That's what we have to do. We have to play 90 minutes," Elder said. "If we do that, we can break teams down."
 
Senior defender Chase Robertson struck a low free kick beyond the wall and past diving Texas A&M International goalkeeper Solomon Moctezume in the 69th minute for the Mustangs' third and final tally.
 
Defensively, the Mustangs clamped down on a very quick TAMIU attack limiting the Dustdevils to nine shots with four falling on frame.
 
"The big thing is we got the shutout. No one shuts this team down. Our goal was to be strong on restarts. The speed of their attack was very apparent," Elder said. "Credit goes to our midfield for getting back, our back four for holding strong and our strikers worked hard."
 
Junior goalkeeper Nick Petolick made four saves to complete his fourth clean sheet of the season.
 
Midwestern State plays host to St. Edward's (Texas) Sunday afternoon at the MSU Soccer Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.