PORTALES, N.M. -- Confidence is building for Midwestern State and the by-products are proving extremely positive for the Mustangs.
Goals and wins.
MSU (3-2) continued all of the trends in a 3-0 rout of Eastern New Mexico in its Lone Star Conference opener Wednesday night at Greyhound Stadium.
"We needed that," MSU coach
Ryan Spence said. "The crossing is more confident, the runs are more confident, and the finishes are improving. They are doing the little things that make us better on the attack."
By doing the little things, the Mustangs have scored big with nine goals in the last three matches including a 4-0 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday and then scored twice in the closing 11 minutes for a 2-1 victory over East Central (Okla.) on Sunday.
Junior forward
Cassidy Savoy delivered her third collegiate brace scoring twice in the second half.
She battled through the box to get on the end of a well-struck through ball from
Lexi Beck, then powered the ball past the ENMU goalkeeper to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead in the 51st minute.
"Cass doesn't take no for an answer," Spence said. "She is just going to keep working until her legs fall off. That's the type of player she is."
Savoy, who netted the game winner in the 90th minute on Sunday, found the sweet spot in the box for her third goal of the season in the 67th minute.
Freshman
Brynn Covington forced a turnover in the attacking half and sent a through ball down the right channel for fellow frosh
Jadyn Lopez, who worked to the touch line and sent a negative ball toward the penalty spot.
Savoy sent a right-footed, one-time shot to the upper right corner of the net.
It was Covington who also drew first blood for the Mustangs in the opening half and now scored in her first three collegiate appearances.
The native of Las Vegas took a pass from
Randi Heaton in the 44th minute and ripped a shot to the upper right corner of the net from just over 20 yards out just beyond the center of the top of the box.
"Brynn has the green light to shoot," Spence said. "When she squares it up, she has a great opportunity to score."
Beck continued her run of play making accounting for her Lone Star Conference leading fifth assist -- all over the course of the last three matches.
"Lexi is always where she needs to be," Spence said. "She knows what runs to make and she is hard to mark. She plays carefree and with an attitude. That's a good thing."
Midwestern State takes on St. Mary's Saturday afternoon at Stang Park. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. The Rattlers received votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches Division II Poll.
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-- MSUMustangs.com --
