RICHARDSON, Texas – No. 1-ranked Midwestern State takes the pitch for the first time as defending national champions on Thursday evening. The Mustangs meet Cal State East Bay at UTD Soccer Complex at 5 p.m.

Midwestern State closed out last season with an 11-match winning streak that culminated with a 2-0 win over Rollins in the national championship game at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

The Mustangs finished last season with a 19-3-3 record and won all five matches played at a neutral site. 

Midwestern State is facing Cal State East Bay for the first time in the history of the program.

Last year's leading goal scorer, Parker Plaxco, is donning the Maroon and Gold once again this year after scoring 13 goals and adding five assists last season. The fifth-year senior from Stephenville, Texas, scored five game-winning goals on the way to the national championship and is the Lone Star Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Davis Mays, a graduate student from Wichita Falls, was named LSC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Mays was a standout performer as the Stangs allowed 0.68 goals per game last season.

Junior Jake Morris from Parker, Colorado, posted 11 clean sheets last season and is the LSC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.

Plaxco and Mays were both All-LSC First Team selections in 2025.

Cal State East Bay finished last season with a 7-6-5 overall record and lost its only neutral site match. The Pioneers reached the semifinals of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, losing to Stanislaus State, 2-0. Midwestern State eliminated Stanislaus State in the third round of the NCAA Tournament last season with a 2-0 victory in Turlock, California.

Senior midfielder Alejandro Zarate was the leading goal scorer for East Bay last season, scoring nine goals and adding nine assists. Zarate transferred to East Bay from Sonoma State and scored three game-winning goals for the Pioneers last season. 

Senior forward Kiichi Murakami from Japan was second on the team last season with 11 points, scoring three goals and assisting on three others for the Pioneers. Murakami was at Cañada College before transferring to East Bay in Alameda, California.

Senior goalkeeper Adan Corona is back for his fourth season with the Pioneers. He finished last season with a goals-against average of 1.40 and made 65 saves in 21 appearances, including 15 starts for East Bay.

Cal State East Bay was selected sixth in the 2026 CCAA Men's Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll.

The Pioneers outscored their opponents 32-28 over 18 matches last season, while Midwestern State scored 49 goals and only conceded 17 in 25 matches.

Midwestern State returns to Richardson on Saturday afternoon to face Colorado Mesa at 2 p.m. The Mustangs will not play their home opener until Sept. 10, when Southern Nazarene visits Stang Park for a 7 p.m. match.