Box Score (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – West Texas A&M used an early advantage to hold off a Midwestern State second half rally and hand the Mustangs back-to-back losses for the first time this season in a 2-1 Highway 287 Challenge win Friday evening at MSU Soccer Field.
 
West Texas A&M (6-4-0, 4-2-0 LSC) went in front 1-0 in the 26th minute after a strike from Kaitlin Steele in the middle of the box. The Lady Buffs stretched their lead to two in the 38th minute as Marlene van Mourik tallied her sixth goal of the season with a shot from the left wing into the right corner of the net.
 
After being held to just two shots in the opening period, Midwestern State (6-3-2, 3-2-0 LSC) put pressure on the WT defense in the second half with a total of eight shots, four coming on goal. Just five minutes into the period, a pass by Destinee Williamson found Nicole Coetzer in the middle of the box before finishing into the left side of the net to cut the MSU deficit in half at 2-1.
 
Williamson and Lauren Fambrough looked to record the equalizer with each taking a shot on goal after Coetzer's score but WT goalkeeper Courtney Dippel came away with saves on each attempt to help the Lady Buffs to a road win.

NOTES
*Midwestern State led 10-9 in shots, holding West Texas A&M to just two attempts in the second half
*Each team finished with five shots on goal for the game
*Destinee Williamson finished with a team-best four shots and two on goal

STAT OF THE GAME
2 – A 2-0 MSU deficit matched the largest of the season since a 2-0 defeat to Colorado State-Pueblo in the second game of the season on Sept. 3

QUOTE OF THE GAME
"The girls showed a resiliency in the second half that should be applauded. We keep learning more about ourselves every game. The coaches and the players will continue to get better and we will move forward." - Head coach Damian Clarke

UP NEXT 
Midwestern State continues Lone Star Conference play Sunday with a 1 p.m. matchup against Eastern New Mexico.