TURLOCK, Calif. — No. 8-ranked Midwestern State (16-3-3) secured a 2-0 victory over No. 3-ranked Stanislaus State (17-2-1) in the third round of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship on Sunday afternoon at Warrior Stadium. The fourth-seeded Mustangs recorded their 13th shutout, allowing only one shot on goal while scoring once in each half.
Midwestern State is among the final eight schools in the tournament for the eighth time in program history, having last reached the Elite Eight in 2017. It is the furthest Midwestern State has progressed in the NCAA Tournament under head coach
Michael Meachum.
The first half began with both teams testing each other's defenses. MSU created early pressure, with
Dereck Espinal's shot in the 13th minute being saved by Stanislaus State's goalkeeper, Angel Ruiz-Hernandez. The Mustangs continued to push forward, as
Cooper Tea and
Liam Pritchard both had opportunities on goal but were unable to convert.
Momentum shifted decisively in the 42nd minute when
Gabriel Gacovicaj found the net, assisted by Espinal, putting MSU ahead 1-0. The half closed with MSU maintaining their lead, as Stanislaus State was unable to capitalize on their chances, leaving the score at 1-0 in favor of the Maroon & Gold at halftime.
The second half opened with MSU maintaining pressure from the outset. A series of attempts on goal by
Skyler Krchnak and
Cooper Tea tested the Stanislaus State defense, but both efforts were saved by goalkeeper Ruiz-Hernandez. As the half progressed, the Mustangs continued to create opportunities, with Tea narrowly missing another shot over the top in the 79th minute.
The Mustangs capitalized in the 90th minute when Espinal found the back of the net, extending their lead and securing a 2-0 victory.
Midwestern State will visit No. 16-ranked and third-seeded Point Loma in the Super Region IV final on Saturday at PLNU Soccer Field in San Diego. Point Loma eliminated UC Colorado Springs, 2-1, to reach the national quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
