SAN ANTONIO -- A momentary defensive lapse proved to be the undoing for Midwestern State in the second round of the NCAA Division II tournament Sunday night at Sigma Beta Chi Field.

St. Mary's defender Andrick Ferrer reeled in an imperfectly struck cross to score the lone goal of the match lifting the No. 5-ranked Rattlers to a 1-0 win.

"It was another good battle between two good programs. Unfortunately for us, we didn't get on the right side of the result," MSU coach Michael Meachum said. "I give a lot of credit to (St. Mary's coach) Johnny (Clifford) for having a good program and a good team. I wish them the best, but I love these guys to death. They put us a good situation."

The Mustangs finish the campaign with a 13-6-3 record advancing to the postseason for the eighth straight year for the 14th time in the last 15 seasons. MSU also claimed its fourth conference postseason championship in the last six years along the way.

But Ferrer's finish was the product of a hesitation on the back line that allowed St. Mary's junior midfielder Juan Jose Valdez Lopez to keep a ball in play right in front of the MSU bench in the 61st minute.

Valdez Lopez made the turn on the goal line and sent a ball across the front of the goal without an obvious target.

Ferrer worked his way back to the ball and knocked it back across frame and into the lower right corner for his third goal of the season.

The goal came minutes after Midwestern State junior center back Tristian Adams exited with an injury.

"He's obviously a big part of our defense, but I feel like collectively we were all trying to battle and do our thing," MSU senior defender Colby Parton said. "There might have been a little shift (in momentum), but we were in a battle until the end."

The Mustangs created numerous chances placing three of their nine shots on goal while two other hit the crossbar and another bounded off of the post.

St. Mary's junior goalkeeper Andre Schlaefli made consecutive saves in the 75th minute denying Max Gonzales from point-blank range, then managed to rebound to push Jack Larkin's rebound shot off of the post to preserve his 12th shutout of the season.

Midwestern State showed resiliency in finding a way to the postseason despite numerous injuries and battling through a midseason slump.

"I couldn't more proud of the guys I have gotten to play with all season," sophomore goalkeeper Adam Braman said. "It just (stinks) that we don't get one more game."

Adam Robinson, Brandon Martinez-Trelles, Gavin Scott, and Parton competed in their final collegiate game for the Mustangs.

Second-seeded St. Mary's advances as the host of the third and quarterfinal rounds next weekend in San Antonio. The Rattlers play No. 3-seeded Colorado State-Pueblo, while No. 4-seeded California State, Dominguez Hills and No. 8-seeded Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) will also make their way to Sigma Beta Chi field.

The Rattlers improved to 12-1-6 on the season.
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