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This Week with the Mustangs (9/19/2023)

General Pete Stein / MSU Athletic Communications

This Week with the Mustangs

MEN'S SOCCER

Mere Escobar has scored at least one goal in every match this season, and the No. 5-ranked Mustangs are unbeaten through their first six matches. Midwestern State has a three-match winning streak and improved to 5-0-1 with wins over Fort Hays State and Southern Nazarene last week.

Escobar has scored eight times to lead NCAA Division II in goal scoring. The senior forward scored twice in each of the two road victories last week.

Anthony Perea set up Escobar for a goal in the 30th minute at FHSU Soccer Stadium. Escobar scored again in the 63rd minute, assisted by Daniel Yu and Josh Milla, as MSU defeated Fort Hays State, 2-0, and improved to 4-0-0 in the all-time series.

Two nights later, Escobar scored twice in the Mustangs' 5-1 victory in Bethany, Oklahoma, as Midwestern State beat Southern Nazarene for the seventh straight time in the series.

The next three opponents for the Mustangs are all members of the Lone Star Conference, but these matches do not count in the conference standings.

Midwestern State plays its third consecutive road game at St. Mary's on Wednesday night, returning to Sigma Beta Chi Field, where the MSU season ended last year.

The Rattlers won both meetings in San Antonio last season, including a 1-0 victory in the second round of the NCAA Division II tournament. St. Mary's defender Andrick Ferrer reeled in an imperfectly struck cross to score the lone goal of the match. The Mustangs created numerous chances placing three of their nine shots on goal while two others hit the crossbar and another bounded off the post.

Midwestern State leads the all-time series, 34-5-0, and is 11-4-0 when visiting the Rattlers. The Mustangs have lost their last three visits to Sigma Beta Chi Field. The last win in San Antonio came in the 2019 LSC Tournament Final, when Carlos Flores scored in the 77th minute, and MSU prevailed, 1-0.

St. Mary's is 4-1-1 this season and is coming off a pair of wins in the Golden State. The Rattlers defeated Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif., 2-1, despite conceding a goal in the fourth minute and being outshot, 17-7.

Sophomore Alexander Carey scored a brace, while freshman Avery Estell scored his first collegiate goal as St. Mary's defeated the Academy of Art in San Francisco on Sunday, 3-0.

Fifth-year senior midfielder Cain Foley from Wexford, Ireland, leads the Rattlers with five goals and two assists through six matches.

Goalkeepers Andre Schlaefli and Johnny Thurbin have each played three matches. Schlaefli, who is 2-1-0, has allowed three goals, and the senior from Katy, Texas, has a .769 save percentage. Thurbin has a .923 save percentage, and the sophomore from Surrey, England, has only allowed one goal en route to a 2-0-1 record.

St. Mary's is hosting a ranked foe for the third time this season. The Rattlers suffered a 2-0 loss to No. 12 Colorado State – Pueblo, and played No. 20 UC – Colorado Springs to a 1-1 draw. St. Mary's is 2-1-1 at home this season.

On Saturday, Midwestern State will renew its rivalry with West Texas A&M. The two sides will square off at Stang Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

The Mustangs conceded a goal in the 11th minute and that was all West Texas A&M needed to score a 1-0 victory in the season finale at Stang Park last season.

The two teams met three days later in the LSC Tournament quarterfinals at The Pitch in Canyon, Texas, and MSU scored three goals in a span of four minutes and 21 seconds after falling behind, 2-0, and defeated the Buffaloes, 3-2.

Goalkeeper Adam Braman made seven saves in the loss at home and made six saves in the LSC Tournament victory.

The junior from Mercer Island, Wash., has started all six matches in goal for Midwestern State this season and is second in the LSC with a 0.51 goals against average. His save percentage of .786 is fourth-best in the LSC. Braman has posted three clean sheets, which leads the conference.

Wednesday, September 20

Time Match Digital Media
7 pm #5 Midwestern State at #16 St. Mary's Watch | Live Stats

Saturday, September 23

Time Match Digital Media
2 pm #5 Midwestern State vs. West Texas A&M Watch | Live Stats | Digital Program
 

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Midwestern State looks to extend its winning streak to four matches as it opens conference play against unbeaten Texas Woman's at Stang Park on Wednesday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Mustangs are coming off a season-high three-goal outburst in a 3-0 win at Southwestern Oklahoma State on Sunday.

Junior Lexi Beck scored a goal and added an assist, while Isabella Cruz and Averi Culver added their first goals of the year for the Mustangs, who improved to 3-1-2 for the season. MSU is 1-0-1 at home after defeating Oklahoma Baptist last week, 2-1. The Mustangs opened the season with a 0-0 draw against MSU Denver at Stang Park.

Beck is tied for third in the conference with four goals this season, and she is 2 for 2 from the penalty spot for Midwestern State. Beck has scored in each of the last three matches and four of the last five matches for MSU. Beck also assisted Cruz on a goal in the 38th minute against SWOSU on Sunday.

Cruz is fifth in the conference with 21 shots and nine shots on goal.

Junior goalkeeper Lexi Jackson has played every minute of the non-conference campaign and is fifth in the conference with a 1.00 goals against average. Jackson has made eight saves, including four during the three-match winning streak.

Last year, Jackson made five saves for the Mustangs in a 5-0 win over TWU at Pioneer Soccer Park in Denton, Texas.

Beck had a goal and an assist in the victory at TWU on Oct. 25. Keyara Zuniga Dalton and Emma Short also scored goals for the Mustangs, who scored a season-high five goals at the expense of the Pioneers.

Midwestern State leads the all-time series with TWU, 16-9-5, and the Mustangs are 10-2-2 when hosting the Pioneers.

TWU won its first five matches this season, outscoring its opponents, 12-1. The Pioneers recorded their fifth clean sheet of the season and closed out the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 0-0 draw against Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, on Saturday.

TWU has the second-best goal differential in the LSC at +11. Only Dallas Baptist is better with a +12 goal differential.

Pioneers goalkeeper Amanda Farris has allowed one goal and made 19 saves in six games. The junior from Bryan, Texas, leads the conference with a goal against average of 0.17. Farris is also leading the LSC with a .947 save percentage and four shutouts this season. She played nearly 78 minutes and combined with Sydney Kurtz in a 4-0 win over Southern Nazarene at Pioneer Soccer Park on Sept. 9.

Freshman Alyssa Striker from Wylie, Texas, has three goals and two assists for the Pioneers and is ninth in the conference with eight points in six matches.

TWU leads the LSC with 105 shots and nearly 45 percent of those shots are on goal. Striker leads the team with 3.5 shots per game, and 10 of her 21 shots have been on frame.

Midwestern State is on the road for a Saturday duel against Angelo State at ASU Soccer Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Mustangs are unbeaten in their last three meetings with the Rambelles, advancing to the semifinals of the LSC Tournament as Lexi Jackson made a pair of saves during a penalty kick shootout last season in San Angelo, Texas.

Beck and Cruz both scored goals in a 2-0 win over Angelo State at Stang Park to close out the 2022 regular season. Jackson made two saves as Midwestern State secured the No. 7 seed in the LSC Tournament with the victory.

Midwestern State is 18-15-8 in the all-time series with a 6-7-6 mark when visiting Angelo State.

The Rambelles had a four-match losing streak to close out non-conference and were shut out in all four matches away from home.

Angelo State opened the season at home with a 3-3 draw against Central Oklahoma before posting a 4-0 win over East Central at ASU Soccer Field.

The Rambelles begin conference play on the road at St. Edward's on Wednesday.

Wednesday, September 20

Time Match Digital Media
7 pm Midwestern State vs. Texas Woman's Watch | Live Stats | Digital Program

Saturday, September 23

Time Match Digital Media
1 pm Midwestern State at Angelo State Watch | Live Stats
 

WOMEN'S TENNIS

Midwestern State competes in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's South Central Region on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Arlington Tennis Center.

The Mustangs are set for entries in singles and doubles draws while competing for the right to advance to the ITA Cup from Oct. 12-15 in Rome, Georgia.

Thursday, September 21 - Saturday, September 23

Time Match Digital Media
All Day Midwestern State at ITA South Central Regionals Live Results
 

VOLLEYBALL

Midwestern State embarks on the LSC portion of its schedule this week. The first conference clash for the Mustangs is Friday as they battle the St. Edward's Hilltoppers at the Recreation and Convocation Center in Austin, Texas. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The Mustangs and Hilltoppers met last weekend in Portales, New Mexico, at the LSC Crossover event.

Alayna Guerrero led a strong defensive team effort to help Midwestern State to a 3-1 victory. Guerrero delivered a solid all-around performance with 24 assists, four kills, and a solo block. The freshman from Red Oak, Texas, had a season-high 26 digs in the victory.

Guerrero was one of four players with at least 20 digs as sophomore Robyn White finished with a career-high 23 digs. Senior Lauryn Bourne and sophomore Taygon Jones pitched in 21 and 20 digs, respectively.

Bourne led the Mustangs with 11 kills on 36 swings with three errors for a .222 hitting percentage, while freshman Isabella Dickens matched a season-high with 10 kills of her own.

Junior Riley Rabedeaux wrapped up her eighth double-figure kill performance of the season with 10.

Freshman Jaiden Wright recorded four total blocks to lead the Mustangs' effort at the net.

Guerrero is sixth in the LSC with 6.79 assists per set. Rabedeaux is eighth in the conference with 3.10 kills per set.

Midwestern State is 3-9 following its four matches against LSC opponents at Greyhound Arena, but the four results do not count in the conference standings.

Midwestern State has won four of its last five meetings with the Hilltoppers, who lead the all-time series, 11-7. The Mustangs are 2-5 when traveling to St. Edward's, and MSU was swept in its last visit, 25-11, 25-22, 25-21.

Last year in the conference opener at D.L. Ligon Coliseum, Midwestern State rallied to win a five-set thriller against St. Edwards, 23-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-14, 16-14. White had 12 kills in the victory for MSU.

St. Edward's had won its first three matches at the LSC Crossover event and only dropped one set in that span. The Hilltoppers are entering conference play with a 4-8 record.

Freshman Kelly Fording, an outside hitter from San Antonio, leads the Hilltoppers with 2.83 kills per set and 13 service aces. Freshman Cora Young, a middle blocker from Nampa, Idaho, leads the team with 30 blocks this season.

Senior Sarah Knovodoff is a defensive specialist and is likely to be the Hilltoppers libero. The native of Clermont, Florida, has 250 digs in 45 sets this season.

Opponents are hitting .157 against St. Edward's, and the Hilltoppers are 15th in the conference with an attack percentage of .128.

Midwestern State travels to St. Mary's on Saturday for a match at 2 p.m. The Rattlers have won their last four meetings with the Mustangs, including a 3-1 victory last season.

Midwestern State is making it fifth visit to San Antonio. In 2021, Bourne had 10 kills for the Mustangs, who suffered a 3-1 loss at Bill Greehey Arena. Lindsey Ogle hit .429, and Julia Aleman hit .423 to lead the Rattlers in a 25-19, 25-20, 19-25, 25-14 victory.

St. Mary's was 5-6 in non-conference play and lost all three matches at the LSC Crossover in Kingsville, Texas, last weekend. The Rattlers hit .204 during non-conference, and their opponents hit .197.

Sophomore outside hitter Landri Withers from Stephenville, Texas, leads St. Mary's with 2.81 kills per set and has recorded double-digit kills four times in the first 11 matches played this season.

Junior setter Cali Nims from Corpus Christi, Texas, is seventh in the LSC with 6.24 assists per set and leads the Rattlers with 14 service aces this season.

Sophomore defensive specialist Alyssa Koehl is 13th in the LSC with 4.23 digs per set.

Midwestern State returns home Sept. 29 for a match against UT Permian Basin.

Friday, September 22

Time Match Digital Media
6 pm Midwestern State at St. Edward's Watch | Live Stats

Saturday, September 23

Time Match Digital Media
2 pm Midwestern State at St. Mary's Watch | Live Stats
 

FOOTBALL

Midwestern State (1-2) welcomes Eastern New Mexico (3-0) to Memorial Stadium and celebrates "Family Day" on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

The Mustangs are looking to rebound from a 23-0 loss at West Texas A&M in the conference opener.

The shutout was the first for the Mustangs since falling 27-0 at Northwest Missouri State in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Division II playoffs. It was also the first time an MSU team endured a regular season shutout since suffering a 5-0 loss to West Texas A&M on September 14, 1996.

James Cooper has started the first three games at quarterback for Midwestern State. The redshirt freshman from Rockford, Illinois, has completed 21 of 54 passes for 176 yards with five interceptions and one touchdown.

The Mustangs offense is averaging 12.7 points per game and has a total of 740 yards through three games. MSU is averaging 3.9 yards per play.

Running backs Jalen March and Devin Cross are the third and fourth leading rushers in the LSC, respectively. March has 224 yards on 54 carries, and Cross has rushed for 222 yards on 46 carries for the Mustangs, who are sixth in the LSC with 166 yards rushing per game.

Tiquan Gilmore, a junior transfer from Utah, is the leading receiver for Midwestern State with five receptions for 54 yards and one touchdown. Gilmore also has a 15-yard punt return for the Mustangs.

Midwestern State has the third-ranked defense against the pass in the LSC this season, allowing just 37- of-75 passes to be completed for 391 yards. The Mustangs are allowing 130.3 yards through the air this season.

The Mustangs have the sixth-ranked defense in the conference overall. MSU is giving up 333.0 yards per game and 25.7 points per game.

Quintererrius Hargrave is the leading tackler for Midwestern State with eight solo tackles and 21 tackles overall. Michael Gary has two sacks, and Jaylen Shaw has two interceptions to lead Midwestern State.

The Mustangs won their only previous home game, defeating Mississippi College, 30-0, and MSU is 9-4 all-time when hosting Eastern New Mexico.

Midwestern State has won four of its last five meetings with the Greyhounds, including a 28-14 triumph in Portales, New Mexico, last season. Two years ago, the Mustangs took a 17-0 lead at Memorial Stadium but needed overtime to defeat ENMU, 31-24.

Since 2016, ENMU is 17-3 in games decided by single digits following a 30-29 victory over Western Oregon. Mario Sanchez completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Andre Jones with 1:08 remaining in the game as the Greyhounds moved 84 yards in six plays.

Ja'Calvin Newsom scored on a 42-yard run in the third quarter as ENMU overcame a 29-17 halftime deficit. Western Oregon outrushed the Greyhounds, 373 yards to 255, but failed to score in the second half.

The Greyhounds boast the second-highest scoring offense in the conference with 36.3 points per game and lead the LSC with 260.7 yards rushing per game.

Sanchez has completed 18-of-28 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns. The sophomore from Denver City, Texas, has not thrown an interception, but the Greyhound have coughed up five fumbles this season.

Jones is the leading receiver for the Greyhounds with 12 receptions for 216 yards and two touchdowns.

Elijah Zeh has rushed for 204 yards on 56 carries and has scored two touchdowns for ENMU. Trevion Butler has gained 167 yards on a mere eight carries and had an 85-yard touchdown run as ENMU took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter against Western Oregon.

Senior defensive back Eric Williams, a transfer from Adams State, is the second-leading tackler in the conference with 25 total tackles, including 16 solo stops for the Greyhounds. Williams leads the conference with 5.5 tackles for loss.

Senior defensive back Timothy Jones is 10th in the conference with 19 total tackles, including eight solo stops.

Junior defensive back Trey Cain and junior linebacker Colten Madison are both among the top 20 tacklers in the LSC. Cain has been in on 17 tackles with 12 solo tackles, and Madison also has 17 total tackles with 10 solo stops.

Cain has also broken up two passes and has an interception for the Greyhounds, who are third in the LSC with five interceptions this season.

Midwestern State has an off week following its clash with ENMU and will host UT Permian Basin on Oct. 7 at Memorial Stadium.

Saturday, September 23

Time Match Digital Media
7 pm Midwestern State vs. Eastern New Mexico Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Digital Program
 

CROSS COUNTRY

Midwestern State is set to compete in the 86th Annual Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree Saturday morning at the Greiner Family Cross Country Course. The 6K race is set to begin at 8:15 a.m.

The Mustangs make their seventh appearance at one of the largest and longest running cross country meets in the United States, but make the trip to Stillwater for the first time since 2015.

MSU won the college division's 5K race in 2010 and was runner-up in 2008. The Mustangs also competed in the college division in 2007 (20th), 2009 (4th), and 2013 (9th), while running eighth out of nine teams in the university division in 2015.

Midwestern State is coming off of a pair of impressive performances to open the 2023 campaign. The Mustangs finished runner-up at the six-team DBU Orville Rogers XC Opener on Sept. 2, then won over a five-team field at the Mustang Derby two weeks ago at River Creek Golf Course in Burkburnett.

Sophomore Jadyn Dangerfield claimed Lone Star Conference Runner of the Week honors after winning the Mustang Derby with a time of 15:47.00, while finishing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ella Pando, Mariana Sanchez, and Nathalia Escontrias.

Jaycee Lyons was the league's top freshman of the week, placing fifth with a time of 15:51.70. She boasts a team countable finish in each of her first two collegiate meets.

The Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree marks the Mustangs' first attempt at the championship distance of 6,000 meters this season.

Saturday, September 23

Time Match Digital Media
8:15 am Midwestern State at Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree Live Results (TBA)
 

MEN'S GOLF

Midwestern State opens the season with the Ruidoso Junior Golf Association's South Central Shootout on Sept. 25 and 26 at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Championship Golf Course in Mescalaro, New Mexico.

The Mustangs boast seven returners including a pair of starters in senior Keaton Dickens and sophomore Seth Bearden. The duo is joined by J.T. Boyd, Ethan Dean, Robert Garcia, Hank Germany, and Kevin Yang.

The rosters is bolstered by senior transfer James Perry from UC Colorado Springs and a pair of juniors including Gatlin Goad from Weatherford College and Trevor Walsh from Ranger College.

Monday, September 25 - Tuesday, September 26

Time Match Digital Media
All Day Midwestern State at RJGA South Central Shootout Live Results (TBA)
 

Following the Mustangs

LSC Digital Network

All games for the sports of football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and softball are available on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network. Single-event passes run $15, while monthly subscription for all games on the LSC Digital Network run $30. An annual pass for the LSC Digital Network costs $140. Live stats are provided free-of-charge on MSUMustangs.com.

Tickets

All tickets for home events must be purchased online at TICKET LINK.

--MSUMustangs.com--

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Players Mentioned

Lexi Beck

#23 Lexi Beck

MF
5' 6"
Junior
Solar SC
Isabella Cruz

#7 Isabella Cruz

MF
5' 8"
Junior
FC Westlake
Lexi Jackson

#1 Lexi Jackson

GK
5' 6"
Junior
FC Dallas
Emma Short

#30 Emma Short

F
5' 5"
Junior
Solar SC
Keyara Zuniga Dalton

#14 Keyara Zuniga Dalton

D
5' 8"
Senior
FC Sonora Venom
Devin Cross

#26 Devin Cross

RB
5' 7"
Sophomore
1L
Jalen March

#21 Jalen March

RB
5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
1L
Adam Braman

#30 Adam Braman

GK
6' 2"
Junior
Seattle Sounders Academy
Mere Escobar

#11 Mere Escobar

F
5' 9"
Senior
Lonestar Academy
Daniel Yu

#25 Daniel Yu

MF
5' 10"
Senior
Irvine Strikers Academy

Players Mentioned

Lexi Beck

#23 Lexi Beck

5' 6"
Junior
Solar SC
MF
Isabella Cruz

#7 Isabella Cruz

5' 8"
Junior
FC Westlake
MF
Lexi Jackson

#1 Lexi Jackson

5' 6"
Junior
FC Dallas
GK
Emma Short

#30 Emma Short

5' 5"
Junior
Solar SC
F
Keyara Zuniga Dalton

#14 Keyara Zuniga Dalton

5' 8"
Senior
FC Sonora Venom
D
Devin Cross

#26 Devin Cross

5' 7"
Sophomore
1L
RB
Jalen March

#21 Jalen March

5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
1L
RB
Adam Braman

#30 Adam Braman

6' 2"
Junior
Seattle Sounders Academy
GK
Mere Escobar

#11 Mere Escobar

5' 9"
Senior
Lonestar Academy
F
Daniel Yu

#25 Daniel Yu

5' 10"
Senior
Irvine Strikers Academy
MF