WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State kicks off the 2024 season at Stang Park on Thursday afternoon with Western Colorado visiting the Mustangs for the season opener at 4 p.m.

The Mustangs finished last season with a 10-5-5 record and were unbeaten in eight of their last 10 matches.

Leading scorer Lexi Beck returns for her senior season after posting 22 points last season with seven goals and eight assists. Beck scored three times from the penalty spot last season, including the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory at Western Colorado.

Lillia Besedin scored in the 54th minute at Gunnison's Katy O. Rady Field last season as the Mustangs rallied for their first win of the season after draws with MSU Denver and Central Oklahoma.

Allison Dellis is expected to be the starting goalkeeper for MSU after an impressive showing as a freshman. Dellis was 3-1-2 in seven appearances and had a save percentage of .868. The native of Denton, Texas, had two games with 11 saves and finished last year with a 0.79 goals against average.

Senior defender Allessandra Romano was the 24Strong Teammate of the Year last year after starting all 20 matches and finishing second on the team with five goals, including two game-winning scores in her first season with the Mustangs after transferring from Jacksonville State.

Freshman Bella Pillow was named a preseason defensive player to watch in the Lone Star Conference. The freshman from Wichita Falls helped lead Rider to a 20-2-4 record in her senior season, and the Raiders finished 7-0-1 en route to a district championship. Rider had a 14-match unbeaten streak snapped with a 3-0 loss to Colleyville Heritage in the Regional final. Pillow was pivotal as the Raiders posted 15 clean sheets over the course of the campaign.

Cassidy Savoy is back for a fifth season with the Mustangs after starting 38 of the last 40 matches for Midwestern State. Savoy has 14 career goals, including four game-winning strikes, and she has nine assists in her career at MSU.

Western Colorado missed the RMAC postseason tournament by one point last year and finished with an overall record of 4-11-3. The Mountaineers scored 17 goals last season but their top three goal scorers from last season have departed. Aubree Orosco returns for Western Colorado after logging 400 minutes in goal last season and posting a 1.80 goals against average.

Midwestern State returns to Stang Park for a match with Central Oklahoma on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.