WICHITA FALLS, Texas – West Texas A&M men's soccer fell to rival and No. 12-ranked Midwestern State 2-1 on Wednesday night after Mere Escobar netted the game-winning goal with 88 seconds to play. The Buffs fall to 2-4-1 overall while the Mustangs remain unbeaten at 4-0-2.
 
WT came off the opening kickoff looking to push the pace as the Buffs played the ball up the right side. After the ball bounced around players, D'Jonte Davis fired a shot toward Jakob Stone in goal. Stone saved Davis' attempt but could only punch the shot away. Midwestern State couldn't clear the ball before Gabriel Nevarez fired another test at Stone. Nevarez nearly took the lead less than a minute in but watched his shot scrape over the bar. Bryce Cottle recorded his first save of the afternoon six minutes in as Cooper Tea placed a shot into the sophomore's hands. After WT tested the Midwestern State back line, the Mustangs flipped the field where a through ball found Samuele Muroni. Muroni had Cottle off his line, but the midfielder's shot went wide.
 
In the 23^rd minute, Nevarez placed another shot on frame where Stone made an initial save. As the rebound came to Dominic Murphy, Murphy couldn't get solid contact as his shot went to the Midwestern State goalkeeper.  The Buffs threatened to score once again with 10 minutes left in the half as a counterattack entered the Mustangs' 18-yard box. After Nevarez lost the ball, Matteo Landais saw his chance to take the lead float over the open goal. Despite WT holding a 13-5 advantage in shots, the teams went to halftime in a scoreless tie.
 
After halftime, it didn't take long for Midwestern State to take the lead. Mere Escobar received a throw in before turning to fire a ball into the middle of the box. Before a Buffalo defender could intercept the pass, Moroni headed the ball to the back post for the game's opening goal. The Mustangs continued to press the WT back line as Midwestern State entered the penalty box. With a defender bearing down, Tea fired a shot to the back post. The goal-scoring opportunity beat the defenders but rattled the post before being cleared out. In the 61^st minute, the Buffs' pressure paid off as Quinitin Benn-John beat a defender as he approached the penalty box. Before entering the box, Benn-John passed to an open Landais who settled, beat two defenders, and placed his shot into the back corner of the goal.
 
In the 69^th minute, Midwestern State looked to have a go-ahead goal as a free kick curled into the box. As Cottle came in to punch the cross away, a Mustangs player headed the ball into the back of the net. Midwestern State started to celebrate before the officials waved off the goal as the would-be goal scorer started in an offside position. With two minutes to play, the Mustangs formulated another attack but solid defending from the Buffs kept the game tied. Midwestern State scored its game-winning goal as Escobar entered the box in the 89^th minute. Seemingly out of options, Escobar chipped a shot to the back post for the go-ahead score.
 
The Buffs start their Lone Star Conference schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 2 against Texas A&M International with a 7 p.m. kickoff in Laredo, Texas.