SAN ANTONIO – Two early second half goals by the No. 2 Midwestern State men's soccer team broke a 1-1 halftime score to propel the Mustangs to a 3-1 victory Sunday over St. Mary's at Sigma Beta Chi Field.

Sunday's contest was the first of the week for Midwestern State (7-0-0) after having Friday's match vs. No. 9 St. Edward's postponed due to weather in Austin.

"I think that (delay) hurt us, said head coach Doug Elder. "We were gone Thursday, Friday, Saturday and then only played Sunday. We had a three and a half day window just sitting around. St. Mary's was a hard team to play. We were so ready to play Friday; we were focused and the guys we're excited. The good thing is we persevered, we could have easily let up."

Less than three minutes into the second period, senior forward Albert Rodriguez netted the eventual game winner with his team-leading seventh goal of the season as he found the lower left corner of the net to put Midwestern State up 2-1.

St. Mary's (4-4-0) came close to evening the match back up in the 55th minute as a shot from freshman forward Patricio Botello Faz hit the post before sophomore goalkeeper Richard Goss denied the equalizer after Botello Faz collected the rebound and fired a second shot.

"It was a good save," Elder said. "He came out and did really good. That's what we tell the guys when it's your chance, you need to rise to the occasion."

Just one minute later, the Mustangs struck again as a cross from senior defender Ben Clarvis found junior forward Christian Okeke in the box. Okeke then headed it in to give the Mustangs a cushion at 3-1 in the 56th minute.

In the first period, the first shot on goal by the Mustangs came off a score from Clarvis as he found the net for the first time this season off his corner kick in the 25th minute to put Midwestern up 1-0.

St. Mary's got on the board in the 36th minute to even the match at 1-1. Junior midfielder Alex Gonzalez had a shot saved by junior goalkeeper Noah Fazekas before Gonzalez collected the rebound and fired into the net for a Rattlers score.

Goss (1-0-0) earned the win in his first appearance of the season, recording four saves in the second half. Midwestern led 16-13 in shots while St. Mary's held an 8-5 edge in shots on goal.

Midwestern State will continue its road swing Monday, Oct. 5 when the Mustangs travel to Lubbock Christian for a 4 p.m. matchup with the Chaps at LCU Soccer Field.