WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS - #2 Midwestern State had the upper hand on #18 UT Tyler on Wednesday night as the Mustangs snapped the Patriots nine game unbeaten streak and gave them their first loss of Lone Star Conference play.
 
The Mustangs have shown to have a prolific offense, but the Patriots did a fantastic job of deterring that offensive threat in the early going. The two teams would trade shots over the first 15 minutes, but not a single one would go on net as both defenses held their lines.
 
The Mustangs would post the first shot on goal just over 23 minutes into the contest, but keeper Diego Berlingeri would make the save and keep the game scoreless. Another shot from the Mustangs came at the 40 minute mark, and again Berlingeri made the save to keep the Patriots tied.
 
However, that offensive pressure from the Mustangs would ultimately find a goal as they connected in the 42^nd minute of action on the game's first goal that just snuck inside the left post.
 
That would prove to be the only goal of the first half as the Patriots looked to regroup for the final 45 minutes. In the second half, the two teams would start on almost a mirror of the first half as they each traded shots in the early going.
 
The Mustangs again had the first shot on goal of the second half as Berlingeri again held his line with another big save. He would be faced to make yet another save just two minutes later, but the momentum seemed to switch as Nori Ito picked up the first shot on goal of the night for UT Tyler to force the Mustangs keeper to make a save.
 
That spurred a near 15 minute stretch of the Patriots holding the advantage and possession while also outshooting the Mustangs. A foul led to a free kick for #2 Midwestern State, but the ball was turned over to the Patriots. However, another turnover for the Patriots forced pressure from the Mustangs, and they would get the ball deep in the Patriots half of the field.
 
A dribble move from Mere Escobar bought him some space, and he swung a cross into the box that found a leaping Liam Pritchard who slotted it home to give them a 2-0 lead with just over 15 minutes remaining.
 
Over those final 15 minutes, the Patriots would again have the shot advantage and also put a pair of those on goal, but none of those could find the netting as the Patriots fell for just the second time in 2023.
 
For #18 UT Tyler, they were outshot on the night by a margin of 16-10, marking the first time since September 20^th they were outshot and just the fourth time all season.
 
Lukas Paulun and Rodrigo Mendes each had two shots, and six other Patriots accounted for the other six shots. Three different players had a shot on goal.
 
Goalkeeper Diego Berlingeri had five total saves on the night.
 
#18 UT Tyler will get a big chance to bounce back on Saturday afternoon as they host Lubbock Christian in LSC action. That game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start at Citizens 1^st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex.