MIDWESTERN STATE (12-3-3)
vs TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE (9-7-2)

LSC Quarterfinals
Tuesday, Nov. 9 -- 7 p.m.
All-Time Series: Series tied 20-20-6

WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State battles Texas A&M-Commerce in the quarterfinal round of the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament Tuesday night at Stang Park. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The game is available via streaming video on the LSC Digital Network. The cost is $10 for a day pass to watch all LSC Women's Soccer Postseason Tournament for a 24-hour period from the time of purchase.

GOING TO THE GAME? All fans must purchase tickets online, then present the QR code to scan at the gate for admittance. The cost is $6 for adult general admission and $4 for students, senior citizens and military. All Midwestern State are admitted free, but must use the CORQ application.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1 |  Midwestern State claimed the No. 2 seed finishing runner-up with a 9-1-3 mark to earn 33 points during league play. The Mustangs are in search of their sixth postseason title winning the tournament in 1996, 1998, 2011, 2013 and 2016. MSU has advanced to the LSC postseason in 25 of the last 26 years and were the only program to play in 24 consecutive tournaments from 1996-2018.

2 |  Midwestern State rides a six-match winning streak into the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament. In fact, the Mustangs have suffered just one defeat since dropping to 2-2 following a 2-0 loss to No. 21 Colorado School of Mines on Sept. 10. Since that match, the Mustangs are 10-1-3. During the current six-match streak, the Mustangs have allowed just two goals in the run of play. The six-match winning streak is the longest since the Mustangs built to six-game winning streaks on the way to a 13-6-4 record during the 2016 season. MSU has not won seven consecutive matches since rolling up 10 straight victories from Sept. 14-Oct. 22, 2010. That squad claimed an LSC regular season title on the way to a 16-4 mark and was the first in program history to advance to the NCAA Division II tournament. Midwestern State worked overtime to win the last three matches and is 5-0-3 in OT matches this season.

3 |  Senior forward Kelly Cannistra is the reigning Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week accounting for three goals in clutch wins over Texas Woman's and Angelo State last week. She netted the equalizer in the final minute of regulation against TWU, then scored twice including the game winner in the 110th minute of a 2-1 win at Angelo State. Cannistra has accounted for points in seven of her last nine matches. She accounted for all but one goal of her season tallies of eight goals and one assists during the run. She scored goals in three straight matches against Texas A&M International, UT Permian Basin and DBU from Oct. 9-16. Cannistra has played a hand in scoring in the last three matches, as well. She dealt an assist in MSU's 2-1 win at UT Tyler on Oct. 30, then accounted for three goals in the last two matches to earn the LSC weekly honor. Cannistra's eight goals rank seventh in the LSC this season.

4 |  Freshman midfielder Isabella Cruz has played a central role during Midwestern State's current six-game winning streak. She has come on strong to contribute all of her season production during the run accounting for points in five of the six matches. She recorded her first two collegiate assists in wins over Texas A&M-Commerce and West Texas A&M, then tallied her first career goal in the opening minute -- a rocket from 20 yards out -- in a 2-1 win at UT Tyler. Cruz then drilled a one-touch laser from 30 yards out in the 100th minute of a 2-1 win over Texas Woman's last week at Stang Park. She then assisted on Kelly Cannistra's game winner in the 110th minute of the season finale at Angelo State. Overall, Cruz has two goals and three assists in the last six matches.

5 |  Midwestern State made the switch to Lauren Freeman in goal six matches ago and hasn't lost since. The junior from Cleburne is perfect 6-0 allowing just six goals in 678 minutes of play for a 0.80 goals against average. She accounted for shutouts at Texas A&M-Commerce and Lubbock Christian, then made a season-high eight saves in last week's 2-1 win over Texas Woman's.

HEAD COACH RYAN SPENCE is in the midst of his fourth season as head coach at his alma mater. In the 2020 season, he led the Mustangs to the quarterfinals of the Lone Star Conference Tournament. As a player, Spence helped the Mustangs dominate in his four years on the field. He earned All-American from 2008-11 and helped the team reach the Final Four in 2010. His center back prowess assisted in gaining 35 shutouts in his tenure. Spence began his coaching career as an assistant at Texas A&M International in 2016 and accepted his first head coaching position at Eastern New Mexico in 2017. He returned to Midwestern State in 2018.

THE SERIES WITH THE LIONS

Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce meet for the 47th time on the pitch Tuesday night at Stang Park. It will be the last time the programs meet in an NCAA Division II match as the Lions transition to the Division Southland Conference to start the 2022 season. The winner of Tuesday's match will take bragging rights of the series which is tied 20-20-6. The Mustangs snapped a four-match losing streak in the series with a 1-0 win on Oct. 20 in Commerce. Midwestern State has never beaten the Lions in eight LSC Postseason Tournament meets, but has twice advanced on penalty kicks. MSU claimed a tournament title in 2016 taking a 5-4 edge in penalty kicks after the teams fought to a 1-1 draw. The Mustangs also advanced past Texas A&M-Commerce in a scoreless semifinal round matchup in 2013 advancing 3-1 on penalties. The teams have only met in the quarterfinal round just one other time with Texas A&M-Commerce winning 2-0 in 1998. The Lions claimed semifinal victories over the Mustangs in 1999 (2-1), 2003 (2-0), 2008 (3-0) and 2014 (2-1). Midwestern State is 9-9-2 all-time against the Lions at Stang Park.

UP NEXT

With a win, Midwestern State would advance to the LSC Postseason Tournament semifinals against the victor of the Angelo State/Texas Woman's match Friday night at the Patriot Soccer Field in Dallas. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.