MSOC: Southern Nazarene trips Mustangs, 1-0

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State coach Doug Elder could see the silver lining to an unexpected result Friday night at the MSU Soccer Field.

The Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm handed the No. 11 Mustangs a 1-0 exhibition in front of an estimated home crowd of 250.

"We used a lot of personnel and it was good to see what a lot of the guys can do," Elder said. "But if we finish our chances in the early going, it changes the game."

Junior midfielder Brent Beaven hit a streaking Daniel Brown down the right wing in the 23rd minute, while junior Ahmad Ihmeidan had a similar chance minutes later. Both shots screamed wide past the far post. Ihmeidan would remain active creating opportunites in the midfield, but sophomore Scott Magliaro missed on a header from well in the box in the second half as the Mustangs couldn't convert their opportunites.

"I thought our defense played well," Elder said. "We just allowed then one or two dangerous chances and they buried one of them."

Southern Nazarene's Theirry Gakire was able to beat Midwestern keeper Shawn Carr with a header off of a Alwin Gherghescu cross from the right half of the box in the 69th minutes for the match's lone tally.

The Mustangs will get a chance to bounce back in another exhibition contest against Oklahoma City University Monday at the MSU Soccer Field. Kick off is set for 6 p.m.

MSU begins the regular season Sunday, Aug. 26 at St. Mary's.