SAN ANTONIO -- Midwestern State overcame adversity to eliminate Dallas Baptist in penalty kicks in the semifinal round of the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament Friday night at Sigma Beta Chi Field.
The exchanged goals in regulation and in overtime to play to a 2-2 draw before the Mustangs came away 3-1 in penalties to advance to a conference championship match for the seventh consecutive year.
Midwestern State battles Oklahoma Christian for the LSC postseason championship and an automatic bid into the NCAA Division II playoffs Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
"Being the No. 6 seed has humbled us a bit," MSU senior
Brandon Martinez-Trelles said. "But no one wants to face MSU in the LSC tournament and we have a title to defend."
MSU sophomore goalkeeper
Adam Braman made two saves and DBU sent another over the bar, while
Gavin Scott,
Mere Escobar, and
Rory Doyle all converted penalty opportunities for the advancing Mustangs.
"We knew Adam would save one," MSU coach
Michael Meachum said. "He's already saved one earlier this year and I trust my boys in front of goal."
Midwestern State not only withstood a furious start by DBU, but came out of it with a 1-0 advantage.
The Mustangs benefitted from a corner kick in the 24th minute. Escobar sent a high arcing serve toward the back post that
Tristian Adams headed down to the feet of Martinez-Trelles.
Martinez-Trelles took a shot but it was blocked right back to Adams, who headed the ball toward the far post that was trapped by
Sulahmana Bah, who turned and put his fifth goal of the season high into the net.
Dallas Baptist responded with goal off of a free kick in the 57th minute. Christian Nazier served a ball to the far post from 30 yards that was headed in for Jonathan Leach's second goal of the season to pull the Patriots even at 1-1.
The match featured 42 fouls and 11 bookings, which would play a bigger role in overtime.
"Today was a little more heated than most. Obviously, with what is in line and trying to get into the NCAA tournament with the automatic qualifier," Meachum said. "Our boys kept fighting through. It's a good win and a good character builder for the guys."
After a scoreless first overtime period, Escobar put the Mustangs in the driver's seat when he settled a cross from
Colby Parton before blasting his ninth goal of the season on a well-place shot to the upper-right corner of the goal.
"Give DBU credit, they wouldn't give me my right foot. The one chance I did get, I knew what I had to do," Escobar said.
The Patriots received a break and a man advantage after MSU's
Dereck Espinal was issued his second booking of the match on what appeared to be a 50-50 ball with just under five minutes to play.
Moments later, the center official ordered the clock stopped for a goal kick for no apparent reason.
Dallas Baptist finally broke through for an equalizing goal on a strike from 22 yards out by Ethan Unger, who banged his fifth goal of the season off of the underside of the crossbar. That only resulted after Parton was called for a foul after heading a bounding ball in front of the on-coming Peyton Voelker.
But the Mustangs were able to survive in penalty kicks.
"We have a great keeper and all of the boys trust each other from the spot, so a win is a win regardless of penalties," Escobar said. "We did what we had to do."
Midwestern State moved to 11-5-3, while the Patriots closed the tournament at 7-6-5.
Â
-- MSUMustangs.com --
