THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Sixth-ranked Midwestern State battled No. 14 West Texas A&M to a 0-0 draw in double overtime on Sunday at Stang Park. The Buffs earned the Heartland Conference Tournament crown on penalty kicks, 5-4.
 
WT keeper Alexander Vencel was tabbed the tournament's Most Valuable Player after making a pair of stops in the shootout to clinch the match for the Buffs.
 
MSU Texas' Hikaruhito Meike, Connor Cesar and Kristian Martinez were named to the All-Tournament team. Cesar scored a pair of goals and Meike added the game winner in the Mustangs 3-1 win over Newman in the semifinals while Martinez anchored a back line that allowed just one goal in 200 minutes of play.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Lampe logged his eighth shutout of the season, making four saves.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Luuk Teurlinx saw his first action of the season on the biggest stage. The Netherlands native came on in relief of Lampe in the shootout and stopped WT's Lucca Lima's first attempt.
 
Following Teurlinx's save on Lima's attempt, Vencel answered with a save against Dylan Burke. Both sides hit the next seven shots as the Maroon and Gold got makes from Juan Ramirez, Ross Fitzpatrick, Rory O'Keeffe and Meike.
 
Even at four, Vencel stopped Koby Sapon-Amoah's attempt with a diving snare to the left. Reece Schattle knocked home the winner to give the Buffs their first Heartland Conference title.
 
MATCH NOTES
- Midwestern State moves to 16-1-2 on the season after a 0-0 draw with West Texas A&M in the Heartland Conference Finals
- West Texas A&M claimed its first league title on penalty kicks, 5-4
- The Mustangs were shut out for the second time this season, both coming against the Buffs
- MSU Texas held the high-powered WT offense to four shots on goal
- The Maroon and Gold remained unbeaten in the last 23 contests at Stang Park, boasting a 20-0-3 record
- WT remained winless at Stang Park, dating back to the 2007 season
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State learns its fate for the NCAA DII postseason tomorrow afternoon at 5 p.m.