SENATOBIA, Miss. -  In its final pre-season exhibition match prior to Monday's regular season opener, the Mississippi University for Women's men's soccer team posted a 5-4 road win over Northwest Mississippi Community College on Friday. The Owls and Rangers tallied seven of the match's nine goals in a wild first half, led by The W, 4-3.
 
"It's always good to win before the regular season starts," The W Head Coach Louis Alexander said. "We found different ways to score with four different guys getting on the scoresheet. Guys stepped up in place of others, who were a bit banged up, with little to no drop off. We still have work to do, but I'm definitely happy with where we are at this point of the season."
 
The Owls jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, thanks to unassisted goals by Pedro Santana and Paulo Carneiro in the third and fourth minutes, respectively.
 
The Rangers tallied in the ninth minute, only to have The W's Asahel Salgado make it 3-1 in the 18th minute.
 
Neither team breeched the nets for the next 12 minutes. NWCC would put in a pair of unanswered scores in the 31st and 41st minutes to knot the match at 3-3.
 
But following the Rangers' leveling goal, the Owls' Reggi Pech punched the ball in just eight seconds after the restart. That made it 4-3 as the teams headed into the halftime locker room.
 
As much as the first stanza was an offensive display, the second period showcased both squad's defenses. The only scoring in the final 45 minutes came off penalty kicks by each team.
 
MUW's Salgado[i] sent a PK past NWCC goalkeeper Xzavier Paylor in the 58th minute, as the Owls upped their cushion to 5-3.  In the 78th minute, NWCC converted a penalty kick that made it the 5-4 final score.
 
The W's goalie David McCutchen had nine saves, playing all 90 minutes in the Owls' net.