Box Score (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
CLAREMORE, Okla. – A pair of first half goals carried No. 23 Midwestern State to its third-straight victory Thursday evening as the Mustangs remained undefeated in Heartland Conference play with a 2-1 win over Rogers State at Soldier Field.
 
Sophomore forward Jorge DeLeon gave Midwestern State (5-1-1, 3-0-0 HC) an early lead after netting his second goal of the season and first since the season opener with a header goal off a free kick from senior midfielder Gabriel Cavalcante in the 10th minute.
 
Just before halftime, senior midfielder Leon Taylor recorded his first score of the season with a shot from six yards out to the near post for a 2-0 MSU advantage in the 40th minute.
 
An own goal spoiled MSU's chances for a shutout for the second-straight game as Rogers State (3-2-2, 0-2-1 HC) cut its deficit in half less than four minutes into the second period with an own goal off a corner kick.
 
The Hillcats, who had one shot hit the post in the first half, nearly evened the contest in the 77th minute but a strike by Niall Smith hit the crossbar to keep the Mustangs in front.
 
NOTES
*Midwestern State improved to 4-0 in the series against Rogers State with the teams meeting each of the last four seasons
*The Hillcats netted their first-ever goal against MSU, being outscored 9-1 in the series
*The Mustangs outshot the Hillcats 20-7 with a 5-2 edge in shots on goal
*Senior forward Christian Okeke led the Mustangs with four shots while Jorge DeLeon recorded a team-high two shots on goal
*Senior keeper Noah Fazekas moved to 5-1-0 on the season, collecting one save on the night

STAT OF THE GAME
2 – The Mustangs held Rogers State to just two shots on goal

UP NEXT 
Midwestern State wraps up its road swing Saturday with a 1 p.m. contest against Newman at Wilkins Field in Wichita, Kan.