Game Notes
 
CANYON, Texas -- The No. 18-ranked West Texas A&M men's soccer team renews its rivalry with Lone Star Conference foe, Midwestern State. The fifth-ranked Mustangs enter the contest with a 5-0 overall record.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Live stats and stream will be available for Wednesday's match provided by the WT athletic communications department. Viewers have the option to watch the match on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network for a $10 24-hour day pass or $50 season pass. For more information visit GoBuffsGo.com.
 
SERIES HISTORY
WT and Midwestern State meet for the first time in the 2022 season with the Mustangs holding a 22-31-4 all-time series lead. In their two meetings last season, WT took both games against MSU, winning 4-3 on the road and 3-2 at home. 
 
SCOUTING MIDWESTERN STATE
The Mustangs enter the contest with a perfect 5-0 record, outscoring opponents 13-2 on the season. MSU is led by LSC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Mere Escobar. Offensively, Escobar has scored three goals, assisting on two others to lead the Mustangs with eight points. In net, Adam Braman has collected three wins, each a shutout. Braman hasn't allowed a goal this season and has made 10 saves on 35 shots faced.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Buffs were held off the scoreboard by Northwest Nazarene in their first loss of the season on Saturday. The Nighthawks were able to get past the WT back line in the 32nd minute and held off the Buff attack for the remainder of the game. In their first defeat, WT placed three of 11 shots on frame compared to Northwest Nazarene's four of seven.
 
LSC PRESEASON POLL
The Mustangs and Buffs finished first and second in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll released in August. Midwestern State picked up 15 of the 26 first-place votes, totaling 245 points. WT, seven first-place votes, earned 230 points. St. Mary's (3 fpv, 199) finished third while Lubbock Christian accumulated 162 points with one first-place vote. UT Tyler finished the top five with 153 points.
 
BUTCH LAUFFER
Butch Lauffer is in his 32nd season as head men's soccer coach at West Texas A&M University. As the longest tenured head coach in WT history, Lauffer has coached the men to 29 consecutive non-losing seasons and the women to 12-plus victories in 12 seasons. Lauffer has recorded a 366-161-41 (.679) record at the helm of the Buffs with a 555-229-58 (.694) overall record at WT.
 
NATIONAL STANDINGS
West Texas A&M men's soccer ranked 18th in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Top-25 Poll. The top three remained unchanged from a week ago as Cal State-Los Angeles, Palm Beach Atlantic, and Franklin Pierce make up the top of the rankings. Davis & Elkins College jumped into the fourth spot after previously being ranked eighth. Midwestern State finishes the top five, moving up one spot after a 2-0 week.
 
COMING UP
The Buffs travel down Interstate-27 for a non-conference game with Lubbock Christian on Saturday. The Rivalry on the Range starts at 3:30 p.m. at the LCU Soccer Facility.