#5 Midwestern State (0-0) vs. UT Tyler (0-0)
Friday, Aug. 31 | 7 p.m.
Stang Park | Wichita Falls, Texas
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com | Watch: Mustangs Digital Network
Series History: First Meeting | Last Meeting: First Meeting
Trend: Return two All-Conference players from last season's 11-4-3 team
Player to Watch: Lucas Pereira – USCA First Team All-American
 
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Fifth-ranked Midwestern State begins the 2018 campaign with a new feel going into the first match of the season. Newly promoted coach Michael Meachum leads the Mustangs for the first time on Friday as MSU Texas kicks off the new campaign against UT Tyler at Stang Park at 7 p.m.
 
Storylines
Seeing A Similar Face
Michael Meachum begins his first season at the helm of the Mustangs' program after serving as an associate head coach under the legendary Doug Elder, who retired this offseason. Meachum helped the Mustangs to a 103-19-13 (.811) mark in his seven seasons on staff.
 
Heartland Conference Trilogy
The two-time defending Heartland Conference champions were the popular pick to repeat in the league's final season according to a preseason coaches' poll.
 
MSU Texas garnered 22 of the 24 possible first-place votes while receiving 285 points to earn the top spot in the preseason poll for the third straight season.
 
Streaks Alive
The Mustangs put a pair of impressive streaks on the line going into Friday night's matchup. MSU Texas aims to make it 24-consecutive matches without suffering a loss, the longest such streak in the country. Additionally, the Maroon and Gold are unbeaten in their last 15 matches at the friendly confines of Stang Park, dating back to 2016.
 
Great Expectations
Midwestern State begins the 2018 season with high expectations, earning the No. 5 ranking in the United States Coaches' Preseason Poll released earlier this month.
 
The ranking marks the 11th straight season MSU Texas has appeared in the preseason poll and marks the highest preseason ranking since opening the 2011 campaign at No. 3.
 
Guess Who's Back, Back Again
Senior All-America Patrick Fitzgerald (7 goals, 1 assist) headlines a stingy back line that limited opponents to 0.46 goals against average. The Irishman earned D2CCA second-team All-America honors and leads a group of seven starters and 11 letter winners.
 
Senior Alex Mullet (Preseason All-Conference, 4 assists) and sophomore Koby Sapon-Amoah (3 goals) join Fitzgerald in anchoring the defense.
 
Juniors Ross Fitzpatrick (3 goals, 4 assists) and Sebastian Venegas (Preseason All-Conference, 4 goals, 7 assists) along with all-region sophomore Carlos Flores (Preseason All-Conference, 5 goals, 9 assists) return in the midfield, combining for 12 goals and 20 assists.
 
Sophomore Taylor Lampe is back between the pipes after posting a 0.38 goals against average in 2017. The Mansfield native made 37 saves in 13 starts with eight shutouts.
 
Rounding out the returning letter winners for the Mustangs include seniors Kristian Martinez (1 assist) and Nathan Clark and sophomore Julian Barajas (1 goal).
 
Milestone Watch
Senior forward Patrick Fitzgerald ranks 12^th on MSU Texas' career list with six game winning goals. The Irishman moves into a seven-way tie for sixth with his next game-winner.
 
Roster Breakdown
Seniors (4) – Kristian Martinez, Patrick Fitzgerald, Alex Mullet, Nathan Clark
Juniors (14) – Dylan Burke, Rory O'Keeffe, Ross Fitzpatrick, Connor Cesar, Sebastian Venegas, Sergio Lara, Jeffrey Palomarez, Juan Alvarez, Koby Sapon-Amoah, Erwin Regules, Juan Ramirez, Hikaruhito Meike, Gui Leme, Lamarr Meza
Sophomores (5) – Taylor Lampe, Carlos Flores, Julian Barajas, Mitchell Kurtz, Luuk Teurlinx
Freshmen (9) – Tristian Adams, Jack Woods, Bryan Ordonez, Peder Ruud Dingstad, Nicholas McWilliams, Omar Vazquez, Dominique Kossehasse, Garrett Baughman, Mark Alvarado
 
Keepers (4) – Taylor Lampe, Mitchell Kurtz, Lamarr Meza, Luuk Teurlinx
Defenders (10) – Tristian Adams, Kristian Martinez, Patrick Fitzgerald, Dylan Burke, Rory O'Keeffe, Alex Mullet, Nathan Clark, Koby Sapon-Amoah, Omar Vazquez, Dominique Kossehasse
Midfielders (11) – Ross Fitzpatrick, Sebastian Venegas, Juan Alvarez, Carlos Flores, Bryan Ordonez, Julian Barajas, Erwin Regules, Peder Ruud Dingstad, Nicholas McWilliams, Hikaruhito Meike, Gui Leme
Forwards (7) – Connor Cesar, Sergio Lara, Jeffrey Palomarez, Jack Woods, Juan Ramirez, Garrett Baughman, Mark Alvarado
 
Up Next
MSU Texas travels to Shawnee, Okla., on Thursday, Sept. 6 for a neutral site matchup with Fort Hays State. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. at the OBU Soccer Complex.