Crandall ignites MSU to 3-0 win over Lions
WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State's Haley Crandall made a splash scoring the game winning goal in her first collegiate game three seasons ago at the MSU Soccer Field.
She left a lasting impression with her Senior Day performance serving as the catalyst for three second-half tallies for the Mustangs in a 3-0 win over Texas A&M-Commerce.
"Haley did a very good job today," MSU coach Jeff Trimble said. "She's a very strong girl. She has good balance and can just crush a ball."
The Weatherford native recovered a deflected ball in the box in the 53rd minute and blasted ball into the net for her first goal of the season and first since scoring two goals against the Lions at home last season.
The goal kick started a brilliant half for the Mustangs, who managed just three shots in the opening frame.
"I was somewhat disappointed at the half, but we realized the wind was playing a big factor," Trimble said.
Once MSU's got the gusty winds (20-30 mph from the south) behind their backs, the offense started clicking.
And it seemed Crandall was in the mix for just about every dangerous opportunity while she was on the field.
Crandall's cross into the box in the 59th minute found junior Mickey Brown whose first touch was saved by Texas A&M-Commerce keeper Tracey Rogers, but Brown stuck with it and buried her second goal off of a rebound header to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead.
"We're playing with consistency, good defense and we're starting to finish,” Trimble said. "We started generating shots as the season went a long and now we're starting to finish them."
Sophomore forward Payton Fookes tacked on her fourth goal of the season off of a nice over-the-top through ball from Hannah Staley in the 70th minute to round out scoring.
The Mustangs (6-8-3, 6-4-3) have clinched no worse than a No. 4 seed in the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament and can take the No. 3 berth with a win over Abilene Christian Friday afternoon in Abilene and an Angelo State loss or tie at Incarnate Word.
Texas A&M-Commerce (5-11, 4-9) was eliminated from postseason contention and finish the season Friday night at Texas Woman's University.
The Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament is set for Nov. 1-4 at the site of the regular season champion. Incarnate Word and West Texas A&M are knotted at 27 points each.
UIW, which swept its regular season matches against the Lady Buffs, hosts Angelo State in its final game of the regular season while WT travels to Eastern New Mexico.
Incarnate Word will host with a win, while WT needs a win and either a UIW loss or tie.
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