WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Midwestern State defeated Southern Nazarene 3-1 on Thursday night at Stang Park. The Mustangs absorbed nine SNU attacking actions without conceding from 58:53 to 67:40 in the second half.
Cooper Tea put MSU in front in the 19th minute, finishing a
Juan David Valencia Vacca assist at 18:37 to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. Earlier, the Maroon & Gold built pressure with shots from Valencia Vacca, Tea and
Alan Rivera, whose attempt was saved by Aimar Aramendia. After the goal, MSU earned corner kicks at 23:36 and 26:50 and added attempts from
Cristopher Guevara and
Davis Mays during a stretch that also included six fouls and an SNU yellow card. The Crimson Storm answered with a corner and five shots between 30:21 and 38:52, but the Mustangs did not concede and carried the 1-0 lead into halftime.
Jose Ortiz put MSU back in front in the 60th minute, taking a long Mays ball over the top and scoring at 59:37 for a 2-1 lead after SNU had tied the match early in the half. Earlier,
Jake Morris saved Diego Zamora's shot 30 seconds after the restart, and the Mustangs responded to the equalizer with a corner kick and an Ortiz shot off the woodwork before Ortiz scored. The Crimson Storm pressed after the lead change with six shots and two corners between 60:21 and 67:40, but Morris saved Tiago Moreira's attempt, and MSU kept the visitors from adding to the 2-1 score. Morris added a penalty-kick save on Francisco Chong at 76:51, Rivera converted a penalty at 83:53, and the Mustangs finished a physical closing stretch with late saved shots from Victor Hernandez and Ortiz in a 3-1 win.
Mustangs Top Performers
Jose Ortiz
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- one goal
- game-winning goal
- six shots, three on goal
Jake Morris
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- five saves
- 90 minutes
Alan Rivera
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- one goal
- two shots, both on goal
Cooper Tea
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- one goal
- three shots
Davis Mays
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- one assist
- one shot
SNU Top Performers
Henry Boldt
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- 1 goal
- 2 shots, 1 on goal
Xavier Salisbury
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- 1 assist
Essien Behn
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- 1 assist
- 1 shot
Diego Zamora
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- 3 shots, all on goal
Aimar Aramendia
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- 4 saves
Up next, the Mustangs host Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. in Wichita Falls, Texas.
