ODESSA, Texas (September 9, 2026) – After a perfect 3-0-0 start in the nonconference portion of its 2026 season, The University of Texas Permian Basin women's soccer team was unable to find its footing in its Lone Star Conference opener, being outshot 20-2 and falling 3-0 against Midwestern State University on Wednesday at the UTPB Soccer Field.
Midwestern State (5-0-0 overall, 1-0-0 LSC) started the match with a corner kick in the opening minute, a second corner in the first two minutes, and a shot on goal in the first three minutes, all leading to the first goal of the match less than five minutes in. A nice pass by Madison Brinkley led to a goal from inside the box by Lexi Gonzalez, who was able to just chip the shot in above the goalkeeper and into the top, left corner of the goal.
MSU kept the pressure on UTPB (3-1-0, 0-1-0) as a low shot through the legs of multiple Falcon defenders was saved by
Valeria Delgado diving toward the right post in the 15th minute. Delgado later made a save diving toward the left corner of the goal in the 28th minute.
The Mustangs' second goal of the match came in the 39th minute when a cross to McKynzi Hailey resulted in another chip in, this time right into the center of the goal.
Delgado made her last of six first-half saves with a jumping save on a shot to the top left in the 41st minute.
The Falcons were held to without a shot attempt in the first half (trailed 13-0), but came out in the second half with a shot high by
Emily Morales less than one minute in and a shot on goal by
Trinity Vasquez after a free kick by
Breanna Reagan to get the ball up the field in the 52nd minute.
After making a career-high 11 saves late in the season at MSU last year, Delgado continued to rack up the saves against the Mustangs, adding two more saves in the second half and finishing with eight for the match. It was her seventh match in the last two seasons making eight or more saves. With 201 career saves in her fourth season as a Falcon, Delgado is 20 saves away from tying for third on UTPB's career saves list.
MSU's third and final goal of the match came in the 67th minute when a corner kick by Gonzales led to a goal on a header by Sophie Ferro hitting it off the bottom of the crossbar.
MSU, which was receiving votes in the national poll (IWSOC Coaches Poll in Partnership with United Soccer Coaches) last week, came into the match with nine different goal scorers on the season, and the final goal by Ferro made it 10 different goal scorers.
In addition, the MSU defense has yet to allowed a goal in its first five matches of the season, and has outscored its opponents 13-0. The Mustangs have only allowed opponents to take nine shots on goal through five matches in 2026 and extended their streak of not allowing an opponent to take more than five shots on goal to 24 matches, dating back to the second match of last season.
It was the second year in a row the Falcons were held to just one shot on goal in their match against the Mustangs.
MSU has not lost a conference match since 2024 after going undefeated in conference play last year at 10-0-4 and advancing to the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Mustangs were picked second in the LSC Preseason Poll and finished the 2025 campaign with an overall record of 11-3-6, including a 2-0 victory at No. 1-ranked Dallas Baptist in the regular season finale.
Next up, after four straight home matches to open the schedule, the Falcons will play on the road for the first time this season. UTPB travels to face St. Mary's University for a late kickoff (7:30 p.m.) on Saturday, September 12, in San Antonio, Texas.
