Box Score (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
AUSTIN, Texas – A goal by senior midfielder Gabriel Cavalcante in the eighth minute carried No. 19 Midwestern State to a 1-0 shutout win over No. 3 St. Edward's on the road Thursday afternoon as the Mustangs relied on the early score while playing a man down for more than 30 minutes to remain in first place in the Heartland Conference.
 
In the early stages of the game, St. Edward's (12-2-1, 8-2-1 HC) attempted two of its six shots of the game in the first five minutes of action before Cavalcante recorded the eventual game-winning goal.
 
A cross by senior forward Christian Okeke from the right side of the pitch found Cavalcante inside the box before he fired into the right side of the net for a 1-0 MSU lead just 7:07 into the game. Both teams managed just one shot apiece the remainder of the first period.
 
Midwestern State (12-2-1, 10-1-0 HC) was limited to just one shot on the offensive end in the second half while being forced to play a man down as a red card was issued to Cavalcante at the 59:29 mark. The Mustangs defense was resilient down the stretch in posting their fourth-straight shutout and sixth in the last seven games as the Hilltoppers were held to just three shot attempts with their first shot on goal coming at the 88:19 mark.

NOTES
*With the win, Midwestern State takes a five-point lead over the Hilltoppers in the Heartland Conference race with three regular season games remaining
*Midwestern State's win over No. 3 St. Edward's was the first top-three win for the program since defeating No. 3 Colorado Mines, 2-1, in an NCAA Second Round matchup on Nov. 14, 2010 in Wichita Falls
*The Mustangs earned their first win over the Hilltoppers in Austin since Oct. 19, 2013
*Midwestern State moves to 28-5-5 in the all-time series versus St. Edward's
*The Mustangs held an opponent to just one shot on goal for the third time this season (vs. Northeastern State, at Newman)
*MSU posted its eighth shutout of the season, having allowed just one goal (an own goal at Lubbock Christian) in the last 656:14 of play
*Noah Fazekas, reigning Heartland Conference Defensive Player of the Year, collected his seventh clean sheet of the season

STAT OF THE GAME
88:19 – Midwestern State held St. Edward's without a shot on goal until the 88:19 mark 

QUOTE OF THE GAME
"We had to play a man down for more than 30 minutes. It was a gut-wrenching performance by the defense. They could have easily given in but they gave it their all out there and grinded it out. It was a total team effort and I'm proud of the guys." - Head coach Doug Elder

UP NEXT 
Midwestern State takes on Dallas Baptist in its final road game of the regular season Saturday at 7 p.m. at Patriot Soccer Field in Dallas.