THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – No. 1 Midwestern State broke the previous program record of 26 consecutive matches without suffering a loss with a dominant 3-1 win over Rogers State on Thursday at Stang Park.
 
The Mustangs improved to 24-0-3 over the last 27 matches, dating back to the 2016 season and a perfect 4-0-0 in 2018.
 
Defensively, the Mustangs back line of Dylan Burke, Rory O'Keeffe, Alex Mullet and Juan Alvarez dominated the Hillcats, holding RSU to only eight shots and one shot on goal while not surrendering a corner kick.
 
Redshirt junior Sergio Lara broke the scoring seal early in the contest to stake MSU Texas to a 1-0 lead. In the 12th minute, junior Ross Fitzpatrick dribbled the ball wide and split a double team before finding Lara uncovered over the right post. The Frisco native fired to the far side and snuck the ball past Hillcats keeper Chase Coy for the 1-0 edge.
 
A breakaway goal late in the first half by RSU's Abe Young allowed the Hillcats to enter the intermission deadlocked at one-all.
 
MSU Texas came out as the aggressors after the break, taking three of its four corner kicks in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
 
Junior Juan Ramirez gave the Maroon and Gold the lead for good in the 59th minute. Sophomore Carlos Flores picked up Ramirez with a cross from the right-side to grab the 2-1 lead.
 
Sophomore Julian Barajas extended the lead late with a breakaway goal in the 84th minute to secure the fourth-straight victory for the Maroon and Gold.
 
MATCH NOTES
- Midwestern State extended its unbeaten streak to 27 consecutive matches with the 3-1 win over Rogers State to begin Heartland Conference play
- The Mustangs opened up league play with a win for the third-straight season
- In four matches this season, the back line of the Mustangs has allowed 19 shots and six shots on goal in 360 minutes
- Sophomore Taylor Lampe earned his 14th career win in the Maroon and Gold, matching former teammate Richard Goss for the 10^th-most wins in program history
- Junior Juan Ramirez notched his second goal of the season and first game winner with his header in the 59th minute
- Sophomore Carlos Flores matched the team lead with his second assist on the year and 11th of his career
 
UP NEXT
The top-ranked Mustangs are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 15, against Newman. Kickoff at Stang Park is slated for 7 p.m.