CANYON, Texas -- Midwestern State erupted for its highest output of the season claiming a 4-1 result over West Texas A&M Sunday afternoon at The Pitch in Canyon.

"This was a good win and really needed this win," MSU coach Jeff Trimble said. "I didn't play feel like we played well Friday and we haven't gotten the results when we've played well this year. I'm glad we were able to come in a get this one."

The Mustangs improved to 3-7-3 on the season but more importantly moved to 3-3-3 to move into a fifth-place tie with Eastern New Mexico as both teams have 12 points.

The result was a great way to cap what appeared to be a forgettable road trip featuring a bus breakdown and a crushing double overtime loss Friday at Eastern New Mexico.

On top of the that, MSU was without two-time All-America defender Hanna Staley before fellow starting center back Anna Molen went down with an injury in the second half.

So that left a back line with senior Berklee Dressler and sophomore Brianne Bates on the outside and senior Megan Barnhart and freshman Morgan Hannon in the center.

"Our backline really stepped up and played very well," Trimble said as the Mustangs limited LSC leading scorer Leslie Briggs to four shots with must one falling on frame. "Megan Barnhart played very well and won balls in the air. I'm very happy for her."

It certainly didn't hurt that the Mustangs found their rhythm on the attack behind sophomore Payton Fookes and freshman Ashley Cottrell.

"It was probably Payton's best game of the year. She was dangerous all day long," Trimble said. "Ashley really finished well and took care of her opportunities."

Fookes buried a free kick from just outside of the corner of the 18-yard box to give the Mustangs the early 1-0 edge in the game's 4th minute.

"It was the second time she's done that this year," Trimble said. "The keeper didn't even move and Payton drilled it. It was a great shot."

Fookes continued to create in the 24th minute as she took a great feed from from freshman Stevie Harris, sprinted to the touch line and served a cross to Cottrell, who buried it for her third goal of the season.

West Texas A&M beat the intermission horn by 4 seconds as Jasmine Schultz touched in a rebound goal to pull the Lady Buffs within 2-1 at halftime.

The teams managed just three shots each in the second half before the Mustangs erupted for a p air of goals in the match's final minutes.

Junior foward Mickey Brown headed in Katy Catney's serve off of a corner kick in the 88th minute then Cottrell notched her second tally of the contest in the 90th minute.

Midwestern begins a four-game home stand with a pair of matches next weekend at the MSU Soccer Field. The Mustangs take on Incarnate Word Friday at 8:30 p.m. before playing Angelo State Sunday afternoon at 1.

West Texas A&M dipped to 7-5-1 overall and 6-3-0 in LSC play.

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