WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State didn't exactly put itself in the place it wanted to be early in the second half in Tuesday's night's season finale against West Texas A&M.
 
The Mustangs had already conceded the equalizer due to a penalty on a hand ball in the box just nine minutes into the second half. Then a potential disaster struck when Adam Conway drew his second booking of the game just eight minutes later.
 
"Anytime you play a Butch Lauffer-coached West Texas team, it's going to be a fight," MSU coach Michael Meachum said. "We've got to a better job of not putting ourselves in situations where we have to play a man down."
 
Fortunately for Midwestern State, that's where the fight started which eventually resulted in a 2-1 win after Carlos Flores finished a great cross off of Trevor Amann's run down the left channel seven minutes into the first overtime.
 
"We get the red card early in the second half, so we had to make some adjustments," Flores said. "It was about grinding it out and grinding for the win. Especially for our seniors because it was their last time playing here."
 
Midwestern State, which claimed its third consecutive win to improve to 6-2-1, moves on to face St. Mary's in the quarterfinal round Saturday night in Canyon. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
While the Mustangs showed the will to overcome the sixth-ranked Buffs (6-2) playing in a man short, they want to break the habit.
 
"This is the second time in eight or nine games that we've done something stupid that gets a player ejected right before the conference tournament and especially in a game against West Texas," Meachum said. "We can't let those things happen."
 
Senior Yogi Vargas struck first for the Mustangs following Mark Alvarado's blast off of WT keeper Alexander Vencel with a rebound goal in the 34th minute.
 
But West Texas A&M countered early in the second half after Bryan Martinez' shot deflected off of Conway's hand inside the box. Not only did it result in a penalty kick, but it was also Conway's first caution of the match.
 
Giancarlo Saldana's shot to the lower left corner glanced off MSU senior goalkeeper Taylor Lampe's glove to level the game at 1-1.
 
Minutes later, Conway received his second booking sending the Mustangs a man down with 29 minutes remaining in regulation.
 
"To be fair, I didn't see it," Meachum said. "I was sitting there with coach (Doug) Elder talking about the game. I was facing him and he was facing the field and he saw it. So, if Elder saw and it happened. It happened."
 
The Mustangs weren't about to let the Buffs take advantage of another self-inflicted wound.
 
"It's all about grit, toughness and our mentality," Flores said. "That's what we prepare for in preseason and all of these other trainings. At the end of the day, that's what it comes to. As our coach says, whoever is hungriest is going to get the win. We were hungry today."
 
Midway through the second overtime, Amann broke free down the left flank and it was muscle for Flores.
 
"We practice this before every game day," he said. "We get the ball down the line and we cut it behind. Luckily it got to my left foot and placed it in the corner."
 
It was just the final wave emotion which sparked a fight inside the Mustangs.
 
"It's a little bit of adrenaline, but I think it's just being a dog. When you're backed into a corner, the hungriest person is going to eat," Meachum said. "I think that's what defined the game today and what defined the game against (Texas A&M) International. The hungrier person got to eat tonight."