Match 6 – Midwestern State (3-1-1) at Texas Woman's (4-2-1)
Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 | 7:30 p.m.
TWU Soccer Field | Denton, Texas
Live Stats: TWUAthletics.com
Live Video: TWUAthletics.com
 
Match 7 – Midwestern State (3-1-1) at Texas A&M-Commerce (4-2-0)
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 | 1 p.m.
Lion Soccer Field | Commerce, Texas
Live Stats: LionAthletics.com
Live Video: LionAthletics.com
 
 
FOR STARTERS
Midwestern State carries a four-match unbeaten streak into Lone Star Conference play this weekend when the Mustangs travel to Texas Woman's and Texas A&M-Commerce. Midwestern will first face TWU Friday at 7:30 p.m. before squaring off against Texas A&M-Commerce at 1 p.m. Sunday to wrap up their five-match road swing.
 
Friday will be the first match of the week for the Mustangs after their Wednesday afternoon contest vs. Lubbock Christian was cancelled due to weather in the Lubbock area.
 
The Mustangs came away with their second road win of the season Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Southern Nazarene (Okla.) in Bethany. Sophomore forward Destinee Williamson scored both goals less than two minutes apart in the first half to help the Mustangs move to 3-1-1 on the season.
 
Since suffering a season-opening 1-0 loss to Fort Lewis, the Mustangs are 3-0-1 and outscoring the opposition, 8-2, with three shutouts. Williamson and junior forward Aly Wade have each recorded two goals to lead the Mustangs offense this season.
 
MUSTANGS RECEIVING VOTES IN NSCAA POLL
– For the second-straight week, Midwestern State received votes (4) in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II Top 25 Poll
– No. 7 Angelo State and Midwestern are the only two Lone Star Conference schools in the NSCAA poll
– The Mustangs appeared at No. 5 in the South Central Region for the second consecutive week, coming in behind No. 7 Angelo State, No. 14 St. Edward's (Texas), No. 20 Colorado-Colorado Springs and Regis (Colo.)
 
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
– Texas Woman's returns to TWU Soccer Field with a 4-2-1 record following a four-match road trip
– The Pioneers enter the weekend ranked eighth in the South Central Region
– TWU is undefeated at home this season, picking up wins earlier in the month against Colorado Mesa and Rogers State (Okla.)
– Senior forward Natalia Diaz leads the Pioneers with three goals and nine points this season
– Senior goalkeeper Ariana Morrison is 12th nationally with a .909 save percentage and 23rd with a .554 goals against average
– As a team, the Pioneers rank first in the LSC and eighth in the country with a .911 save percentage and 24th with a goals against average of .554
– Head coach Babak Abouzar is in his third season at Texas Woman's, carrying an 18-21-4 record with the Pioneers
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
– Midwestern State is 11-3-3 all-time against Texas Woman's
– The Mustangs went 0-1-1 versus the Pioneers in 2014, earning a 1-1 draw in Wichita Falls before dropping a 1-0 decision in Denton
– The Mustangs are 4-2-2 against the Pioneers at TWU Soccer Field, last collecting a win there in 2013
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
– Texas A&M-Commerce is 4-2-0 on the season and a perfect 3-0 at Lion Soccer Field
– The Lions rank in the top 30 nationally in three offensive categories – 24th in assists per game (2.00) and 27th in goals per game (2.83) and points per game (7.67)
– The TAMUC defense has allowed just three goals this season, ranking 13th nationally with a .900 save percentage and 16th with a LSC-leading .490 goals against average
– The Lions also rank 35th with a .500 shutout percentage
– TAMUC was ranked No. 16 in the NSCAA Preseason Poll but has since dropped out following its loss to UC-Colorado Springs during the first week of the season
– Redshirt junior defender Vicky Back leads the Lions offense with six goals and 14 points. Back ranks 15th in the nation with 1.00 goals per game and 22nd with 2.33 points per game
– Senior goalkeeper Courtnie Northern is 20th nationally with a .533 goals against average and a .893 save percentage
– Redshirt senior forward Jade Bell also makes an appearance in the national rankings, coming in at 20th with .67 assists per game
– Head coach Neil Piper is in his 18th season leading the Lions, holding a career record of 202-113-30
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
- Midwestern State is 18-11-4 in the series against Texas A&M-Commerce
- The Mustangs are 9-6-1 against the Lions in Commerce including winners of five of the last six matchups at Lion Soccer Field
- TAMUC went 2-1 versus the Mustangs last season with a 2-1 overtime win in Wichita Falls and a 2-1 victory at the LSC Championships in Commerce
 
MUSTANGS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
– After ranking 59th with a .842 goals against average in 2014, the Mustangs have picked up right where they left off last season
– The Mustangs are 18th nationally with a .600 shutout percentage and 28th with a .575 goals against average after allowing just three goals in their first five matches
– The goalkeeping duo of sophomore Courtney Burnette and redshirt freshman Brooke Bottensek have combined for a .893 save percentage for 17th in the country

MIDWESTERN KNOCKS OFF NO. 13 MOUNTAIN LIONS
– The Mustangs recorded a 1-0 shutout win over No. 13 UC-Colorado Springs in their first road match of the 2015 season back on Sept. 11
– Senior midfielder Morgan Hannon delivered the game winner for Midwestern, converting a penalty kick in the 63rd minute to help the Mustangs record the upset win
– The win over UCCS was the first victory over a nationally-ranked opponent since the 2013 season when the Mustangs took down No. 24 Texas A&M-Commerce on the road
 
BURNETTE COLLECTING HONORS
– After being named the Lone Star Conference Goalkeeper of the Year a season ago, Burnette continues to rack up the awards in her sophomore campaign
– The Irving native was selected as the LSC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year and was tabbed the LSC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 16 after helping the Mountaineers to a 1-0-1 week that included a 1-0 shutout of No. 13 UC-Colorado Springs
– Burnette currently ranks 21st nationally with a .889 save percentage and 29th with a .598 goals against average
 
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 117-38-23 with a winning percentage of .722 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 behind preseason favorite Angelo State (82) and Texas A&M-Commerce (80)
– The Mustangs return eight starters off last year's squad including 2014 All-LSC selections Morgan Hannon, Alex Edwards, Liz Navarette, Courtney Burnette and Destinee Williamson
 
LOOKING AHEAD
– Midwestern State begins a four-match homestand Friday, Oct. 2 when the Mustangs host Eastern New Mexico in Lone Star Conference action at 8 p.m. at MSU Soccer Field