THE RUNDOWN
CANYON, Texas – Midwestern State had played nationally ranked West Texas A&M virtually even in both meetings this season.
 
In the first meeting, the defenses of the Mustangs and then 21^st-ranked Lady Buffs dominated in a 2-0 WT win at Stang Park. The score was not indicative of how close the game was with WT's Khaline Jacob scoring a goal at the buzzer when the Mustangs sold out to force in the equalizer.
 
Sunday's meeting, which featured 38-degree temps and 30 MPH winds, was no different, needing double overtime to decide a winner before a golden goal by the 17^th-ranked Lady Buffs in the 102^nd minute by Khadidra Debesette in a 2-1 thriller over the Maroon and Gold.
 
"The girls played awesome this afternoon," Coach Ryan Spence said. "We had our opportunities to win, but I'm very proud of the way we competed. We played a top-20 team in the country as well as I could've asked for in both meetings this season."
 
Fittingly, even the final goal featured a flair for the dramatic. Debesette fired from 30 yards out that ricocheted off the crossbar and bounced into the net on the game winner.
 
MSU Texas keeper Samantha Upton made seven saves while the Mustangs' back line of Heather Vanderloo, Micah Wilson, Sarah Stewart and Imani Morlock surrendered only one shot – the game winner – in both overtime periods.
 
The Mustangs had a pair of shots carom off the crossbar in the first half. Senna Garcia just missed in the 10^th minute while Stewart's attempt in the 40^th minute bounced out.
 
After a scoreless first half, WT broke the scoring seal on Calista Cordero's shot to the opposite post in the 55^th minute. Noir Hawash crossed the ball into the box, finding the foot of Cordero to stake WT a 1-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs netted the equalizer in the 72^nd minute on their lone corner kick of the second half. Madison Davis lofted the ball into the box on the set piece when Stewart headed it home to pull even at 1-all.
 
MSU Texas amped up the offensive pressure in the first overtime period, taking five shots. Emma Baley and Garcia each had shots blocked in the 92^nd minute while Kelly Cannistra's shot in the 98^th tick was rejected.
 
MATCH NOTES
- Midwestern State falls to 2-9-2 overall and 1-6-1 in Lone Star Conference play after a 2-1 loss to 17^th-ranked West Texas A&M
- The Mustangs have gone winless in their last six matches, going 0-5-1 with a tie against Texas Woman's
- Junior Sarah Stewart scored her first goal of the season, heading the ball to its mark on Madison Davis' corner kick in the 72^nd minute
 
UP NEXT
MSU Texas returns to the pitch on Friday, Oct. 19, against UT Permian Basin. Kickoff against the Falcons is set for 8 p.m. at Stang Park.