WICHITA FALLS, Texas (October 29, 2025) – The University of Texas Permian Basin women's soccer team hoped to give Midwestern State University its first conference loss of the season and first home loss in the last two seasons, but instead, the Falcons dropped a 2-1 decision against the Mustangs during UTPB's final road match of the 2025 season.

MSU (8-1-6 overall) improves its current unbeaten streak to 13 straight matches and remains undefeated in Lone Star Conference action at 8-0-4. The Mustangs also remain unbeaten on their home field at 6-0-1 and continue their home unbeaten streak to 19 straight matches spanning three seasons. UTPB, meanwhile, falls to 3-9-3 overall and 2-9-2 in the conference.

UTPB Goalkeeper Valeria Delgado was under constant pressure all match long and had to make a save on a shot by Madison Brinkley less than 20 seconds into the match. Then the Falcons had to make a team save on a shot by Lillia Besedin just over two minutes in as MSU was on the offensive. It was the second match in a row with a team save for the Falcons.

Brinkley teed up a good look in the middle of the eighth minute and shot it past a charging Delgado, but barely missed wide left, and then Delgado deflected a shot by Allessandra Romano in the 10th minute.

In the 12th minute, however, after Delgado made the save on the initial shot by Nyxalee Munoz, the ball pinballed back to freshman Morgan Countryman, who delivered the one-timer into the back of the net for her first collegiate goal. It would not be the final goal, however, for Countryman.

With a 1-0 lead, MSU kept the pressure up and forced Delgado to make five more saves in the opening period, giving her eight saves in all for the first half.

For the majority of the first half for UTPB, nearly every time the Falcons got into their attacking third, they would be unable to get past the MSU back line. The closest UTPB got was a cross by Maria Tarrago nearly 16 minutes in that soared across the face of the goal.

MSU had 13 total shots and eight shots on goal before UTPB got its first shot on a free kick by Allyson Reed that went wide in the 29th minute. Reed would finish with two shot attempts in the first half.

In the final minute of the first half, a foul in the box created a penalty kick for the Mustangs, but with a chance to take a 2-0 lead, Alinessa Salinas, a sophomore from Wichita Falls, Texas, had her shot saved by Delgado diving her to left to keep it scoreless.

It was the second match in a row UTPB allowed its opponent to total 17 shots in the first half.

In the second half, Countryman converted her second goal of the match on another second-chance opportunity for MSU in the 57th minute. After a corner kick by the Mustangs and a punch-out by Delgado, the Falcons were unable to clear it as Countryman sent her shot back in toward the middle of the goal, and Delgado was unable to catch it cleanly as it bounced off of her and in for a 2-0 lead.

That goal would prove to be critically important in the end. UTPB was being outshot 20-2 and that point in the match, and it was the only shot on goal for either team in the first 17 minutes of the second half.

"It's tough to say it was a typical game from the Falcons tonight," spoke Head Coach Garrett Kull. "We fell behind early, but I really feel like we shined in the second half. In the end, I felt we were a little hard done by some calls, but I was really proud that this team fought the whole 90 minutes. They also did great with us trying something new without a lot of practice, which just shows our flexibility, coachability, and IQ as a team."

The Falcons were on the verge of becoming the third team this season to be held to without a shot on goal by the Mustangs at Stang Park. However, in the 85th minute, UTPB broke through with an incredible goal as Mikaela Corral passed it to Sarah Williams, who found Cassandra Ramirez running up the far sideline. Ramirez stopped her run short and delivered what looked initially to be a cross deep into the box, but instead her shot tucked inside the far side of the goal. It was Ramirez's career-high fourth goal of the season, and was the 10th goal of her career in three seasons of action. It was also the latest she has scored in a season so far in her career.

"Cassandra Ramirez had a special night to get her fourth goal of the season and 10th in her career," added Kull. "Those were goals she had set for herself well into the preseason, and I'm happy to see her deliver on that. It's always rewarding getting to watch a player achieve something they set out to do."

Making her 15th start of the season, her most matches played in one season, Delgado finished with a career-high 11 saves. She has now set a new career-high in saves twice in the last four matches.

"Valeria Delgado had another standout performance," said Kull. "We asked a lot of her tonight and she delivered. I think the real turning point of the game came form her PK save, but she had a lot to do tonight to help us. I've been really impressed with how she's continued to improve throughout the season and continues to be aggressive with her positioning and ball playing."

With the team having their bye week during the final week of the regular season, the Falcons will wrap up their season this weekend with Senior Day against St. Mary's University at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, from the UTPB Soccer Field.

Coach Kull concluded, "I don't think this team understands how highly we think of them as a staff. Headed into the last game of the season, our seniors have really done amazing things this year, including changing the culture of the program. Natalia Salas, Maria Tarrago, Ilaya Pata, Andrea Garcia, all set out to make this year different. I know we didn't necessarily accomplish that on the field by making a LSC Tournament, but their lasting effect in the locker room has led us to be one of the best defensive teams in program history. I cannot express how proud and thankful I am to them."