Midwestern State at Fort Lewis
Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 | 4 p.m.
Dirks Field | Durango, Colo.
Records: Midwestern State (0-0); Fort Lewis (0-0)
Live Video: GoSkyhawks.com (PPV) 
Live Stats: GoSkyhawks.com  
 
Midwestern State at Colorado Mesa
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014 | 1 p.m.
Records: Midwestern State (0-0); Colorado Mesa (0-0)
Live Video: CMUMavericks.com (PPV) 
Live Stats: CMUMavericks.com 
 
Opening Weekend
Midwestern State opens the season with a two-match road trip against South Central Region foes from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Mustangs take on perennial power Fort Lewis Friday in Durango before taking on defending RMAC postseason tournament champion Colorado Mesa Sunday afternoon in Grand Junction.
 
Scouting the Skyhawks
Fort Lewis was picked fifth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason poll after posting an 11-8-1 overall record and a 7-7 league mark good for a fifth-place showing in the RMAC. Sophomore midfielder Tamino Kroeger, a preseason All-RMAC pick, returns after posing 11 goals and three assists as a freshman while junior midfielder Zac Lawrence (6 goals, 3 assists), senior defender Maik Brandt (5 goals, 2 assists), sophomore defender Zac Lawrence (4 goals, 3 assists) and junior midfielder Yannis Becker (4 goals, 1 assist) give the Skyhawks an experienced corps of firepower. Senior Ryan Pakieser started seven games in goal last season allowing a 1.63 goals against average while posting two shutouts.
 
About the Series
Midwestern State meets Fort Lewis for the 15th time on the pitch Friday afternoon in Durango. The Mustangs own a slim 6-5-3 edge in the series which dates back to the 1998 season, but Fort Lewis claimed the last meeting taking a 3-1 result in last year's season opener in Wichita Falls. The teams played 11 consecutive years from 1998-2008, but took a five-year hiatus after MSU reeled off a five-match unbeaten streak against the Skyhawks culminating in a 5-0 drubbing in the 2008 NCAA Division II playoffs.
 
Scouting the Mavericks
Colorado Mesa got hot to close the 2013 with an 8-1-3 mark over the final 12 matches of the season with the lone loss coming to RMAC champion Regis in the regular season finale. The Mavericks avenged the setback by edging the Rangers 2-1 in the RMAC finals to claim the postseason tournament championship, but the late push wasn't enough to secure a spot in the in the NCAA Division II postseason. CMU returns the core of its strong defense in preseason All-RMAC picks in senior goalkeeper Micah Conrads and junior defender Blake Conrads. Conrads posted a 0.84 goals against average as the Mavericks posted six shutouts letting in 17 goals over the 21-match campaign. Senior forward Alan Hernandez is CMU's top returning producer scoring four goals and dishing out four assists in 2013.
 
About the Series
Midwestern State and Colorado Mesa meet for the first time on the pitch Sunday afternoon in Grand Junction.
 
For Openers
Midwestern State kicks off its 43rd season Friday afternoon in Durant. MSU boasts a 32-7-3 overall mark in season lid lifters and is 11-2-1 in the Doug Elder era which began in 2000. The Mustangs, who have never dropped consecutive season openers, took a 3-1 loss to Fort Lewis last season in Wichita Falls.
 
Elder is Active Winningest Coach in Division II
Midwestern State coach Doug Elder enters his 15th season at the helm. He needs 16 wins to become the all time leader in men's soccer coaching wins at MSU. His .785 career winning percentage is the best among all active coaches in NCAA Division at 206-47-26. Elder has led MSU to nine NCAA Division II playoff appearances and is a six-time NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year.
 
Smith returns to lead Mustangs attack
Senior forward Len Smith finished with a team-high eight goals including five game winners last season. Senior midfielder Andrew Power chipped in five goals and two assists while senior defender Chase Robertson chipped in two goals with a team-best six assists.
 
Petolick tops in 2013
Junior goalkeeper Nick Petolick posted a 10-1-2 mark for the Mustangs last season while leading the nation with a 0.36 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. He posted clean sheets in nine of his 13 starts in 2013.