Match 5 – Midwestern State (2-1-1) vs. Southern Nazarene (2-2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 | 2 p.m.
Wanda Rhodes Soccer Complex | Bethany, Okla.                                                                                             
Live Stats: SNUAthletics.com
Live Video: YouTube.com/SNUCrimsonStorm
 
 
FOR STARTERS
Southern Nazarene (Okla.) will be the first opponent outside of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference to face Midwestern State this season after the Mustangs opened the 2015 season against four-straight RMAC schools.
 
Midwestern concluded its first road trip of the season last weekend, earning a 1-0 victory over No. 13 UC-Colorado Springs and a 2-2 draw against Western State. Senior midfielder Morgan Hannon converted a penalty kick in the 63rd minute against UCCS to help the Mustangs to their first win over a nationally-ranked program since 2013. Against the Mountaineers, freshman midfielder Hayley Rohleder connected on her first career goal while junior forward Aly Wade delivered MSU's second score of the afternoon.
 
Wade leads the Mustangs with two goals and five points this season while Rohleder is second for the squad with three points.
 
BURNETTE TABBED LSC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
- After helping the Mustangs to a 1-0-1 week with a shutout win over No. 13 UCCS, sophomore goalkeeper Courtney Burnette was named the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week
- The Irving native totaled 181 minutes and allowed two goals on the weekend for a 0.99 goals against average
- Burnette collected 16 saves in the two contests for a .889 save percentage
- Burnette made several crucial saves down the stretch against UCCS, making stops on four Mountain Lion shot attempts in the final 20 minutes. Against the Mountaineers, Burnette collected two saves in the second overtime to deny the Mountaineers a golden goal
- Nationally, Burnette is currently 31st with a .880 save percentage and 53rd with a 0.746 goals against average
 
MUSTANGS RECEIVING VOTES IN NSCAA POLL
- After a 2-1-1 start to the season, Midwestern State appeared in the receiving votes section of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II Top 25 Poll this week
- The Mustangs moved up to No. 5 in the South Central Region behind No. 6 St. Edward's (Texas), No. 17 Angelo State (Texas), No. 22 MSU Denver (Colo.) and Fort Lewis (Colo.)
 
SCOUTING THE CRIMSON STORM
- Southern Nazarene opened up the season 2-0 with wins over Eastern New Mexico and West Texas A&M before dropping its last two matches by a score of 2-0 to Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian
- The Crimson Storm have had three players each record one goal this season with sophomore midfielder Hannah Robinson and senior forward Siara Price netting game winners for SNU
- The reigning Great American Conference (GAC) regular season champions, SNU was picked to finish fourth in the 2015 GAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Julie Duncan is in her sixth season at the helm of the SNU women's soccer program, carrying a career mark of 59-63-5
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
- Midwestern State is 3-3 in the series against Southern Nazarene
- The Mustangs recorded a 6-1 victory last season in Wichita Falls with Destinee Williamson leading MSU with two goals
- Saturday will be just the second time the two teams have faced each other in Bethany with SNU posting a 2-0 win over the Mustangs back in 1996
- Midwestern State has won three of the last four contests dating back to 1997, outscoring the Crimson Storm 12-4 in that span
 
MUSTANGS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
- After ranking 59th with a 0.842 goals against average in 2014, the Mustangs look to be on track for another strong season on the defensive end
- The Mustangs are 34th nationally with a .500 shutout percentage and 43rd with a 0.711 goals against average after allowing three goals in their first four matches
- The duo of Burnette and redshirt freshman goalkeeper Brooke Bottensek have combined for a .885 save percentage for 26th in the country
 
CLARKE BEGINS YEAR NO. 2
- In his first season at Midwestern, head coach Damian Clarke led the Mustangs to an 8-6-5 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the Lone Star Conference with a 3-5-2 mark
- In seven seasons at Fort Lewis, Clarke compiled a 106-31-17 record with five NCAA Tournament appearances
- Now in his ninth season as a head coach, Clarke holds a career mark of 116-38-23 with a winning percentage of .720 that ranks 12th in NCAA Division II
 
MUSTANGS PICKED THIRD IN LSC
- Midwestern totaled 48 points for third in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll
- The Mustangs return eight starters off last year's squad including LSC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year Courtney Burnette and 2014 All-LSC selections Morgan Hannon, Alex Edwards, Liz Navarette and Destinee Williamson
 
LOOKING AHEAD
- Midwestern will return to the Lone Star State next week with a Wednesday matchup against Lubbock Christian at 4 p.m. at the LCU Soccer Field.