THE RUNDOWN
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – A penalty kick by junior captain Patrick Fitzgerald in the 84th minute carried No. 6 Midwestern State to a 1-0 road victory over former conference foe Northeastern State Thursday evening at DeLoache Field.
 
The win avenged a Midwestern State loss to Northeastern State last season at Stang Park when NSU's Trevor Reed delivered a strike with 2:37 to play in regulation to lift the RiverHawks to a 1-0 win.
 
It was a rather quiet first half offensively for both teams as Midwestern State (3-0) placed two shots on target in the opening frame and Northeastern State (0-3) was held without a shot on goal.
 
Making his first start in goal this season for the Mustangs, senior Richard Goss kept the RiverHawks from going on the board late with four saves as NSU pressured the MSU back line around the 70-minute mark with four shots on goal in a 30-second span. Northeastern State led 11-2 in shots in the second period.
 
NOTES
- Midwestern State begins the season at 3-0 for the ninth time since 2000
- The Mustangs notched their third shutout of the season, beginning the season with three-straight clean sheets for the first time since the 2010 season
- Patrick Fitzgerald converted the fourth penalty kick of his career, going 3-for-3 last season
- Richard Goss moved to 2-0 on the year after collecting a career-high six saves in 90 minutes of action
- Northeastern State led 15-9 in shots with a 6-4 advantage in shots on target
- Pierre Bocquet and Scott Doney each totaled two shots apiece with four different Mustangs posting a shot on goal
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State squares off against Fort Hays State (Kan.) for the first time Saturday in a neutral site contest at Rogers State's Soldier Field in Claremore, Okla. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.