WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- No. 8 Midwestern State returns to the Lone Star Conference Championship match for the third time after defeating a ten-men St. Mary's in the semifinal match. Mere Escobar and Toi Yamaoka bagged goals for the Mustangs in the 2-1 defeat on Friday night.

Esobar opened the match early, scoring in the first four minutes of play. The sophomore stood at the top of the Rattler's 18-yard box, waiting for the cleared ball from Raul Guillamon-Bejar. Esobar received the ball, touched around the incoming defender and floated the ball over Guillamon-Bejar. The recently named First Team All-LSC honoree clinched his 11th goal of the season from the strike.

Yamaoka followed suit, gaining the game-winning tally in the process. Guillamon-Bejar made a diving save toward James Doyle's long range cross, pushing the ball straight toward Yamaoka. The senior needed just one touch to volley the ball back the other direction and into the net. Yamaoka registers four goals and three assists on the season for 11 points.

StMU's Liam Morrison was booked for a second time following a rough foul on Doyle in the 74th minute. The graduate senior was sent off and the visitors fell to ten-men in search of two goals.

Alonso Rodriguez gave the Rattlers some hope with his 73:43 tally. The senior slipped between the Mustang center backs and put the ball past Marc-Antoine Huzen off a long ball from Youssef Mouaddib.

Midwestern State did not flight as Trevor Amann banged a shot off the crossbar in the 85th minute. The senior led both teams with five attempts on the night, landing two on frame. 

MSU returns to Stang Park on Sunday, Nov. 14 for the Lone Star Conference Championship match. The Mustangs take on Lubbock Christian who took a 3-0 victory against No. 17 West Texas A&M in the other semifinal. LCU and MSU will face-off at 1 p.m. for a chance to raise the trophy.