WICHITA, Kan. — A penalty kick late in the second half and terrific defense down the stretch gave the Newman men's soccer team a big 1-0 victory over No. 23 Midwestern State in Heartland Conference play Sunday afternoon at Bishop Carroll High School.

KEY SEQUENCE

Luca Anelli hustled hard after a pass that was well over his head in the 64th minute, and his hard work paid off, as he was drug down in the box to earn the Jets (5-2-1, 3-0-1, 10 pts Heartland) a penalty kick. Marian Saar stepped up to take the PK, and buried it high and to the left to give the hosts the only score they would need against the Mustangs (5-2-1, 3-1-0, 9 pts Heartland).

SCORING PLAYS

64'-Newman-Marian Saar, penalty kick. Saar calmly popped the penalty kick high and to the left as the Midwestern keeper dove the opposite way to give the Jets the lead.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-Anelli got the first of few attempts for the Jets in the game, winning a ball at midfield and taking it the whole way to the top of the box before unleashing a shot between a defenders legs that slid just wide to the right.

-The Mustangs maintained possession for long stretches from there, getting a number of dangerous chances. Newman keeper Blake Andrews came up huge in multiple spots, beginning in the 28th minute when a corner dropped at the feet of MSU's Patrick Fitzgerald, who cracked a shot that forced Andrews to leave his feet to make the stop.

-A nice move by MSU's Antonio Hernandez at the top of the box in the 40th minute got him some free space for a solid shot, but Andrews again was in the right position, lunging to his right to make the stop and keep things scoreless.

-A disjointed second half saw twice as many fouls (20) as shots (9), as both teams worked to get the all-important first goal. One of those fouls on Newman led to a restart by the Mustangs, and the free kick ended up on the foot of Leon Taylor, who got off a blast from 15 yards out that cleared the defense and smacked off the right post.

-A counter attack by the Jets started the play that ultimately led to their winning goal. A strategic move to put Anelli in the middle in the second half cleared the senior to chase after a through ball, and the foul on him gave Saar the chance to put the Jets up.

-The goal gave a renewed vigor to the Jets, and every attack by the Mustangs seemed destined to find the foot or head of a Newman player. Andrews made plays on back-to-back corners in the 76th, punching the first away and corralling the second to preserve the shutout.

-As Newman tried to milk the clock in the last 15 minutes, the back line and the midfielders were in the face of every MSU player with the ball. Jamie Barkway skied above the rest of the field to head away a number of free kicks and crosses, and the Mustangs' two shots and a corner in the last 10 minutes were all thwarted.

NOTES

-The Jets have now gone unbeaten in their last six games, going 5-0-1 over that stretch, and haven't lost a game since their opening weekend.

-Newman's 3-0-1 start to Heartland Conference play is the team's best start in league play in its Division II era. The Jets moved into sole possession of first place in the North Division in the new-look conference standings.

-Saar's PK was the only shot on goal in the game for the Jets, who allowed just five shots on goal. Overall, the Mustangs held the advantage in shots, 13-3, but only put two on goal after halftime.

-Sunday's game was the second attempt in as many days for the two teams to complete a game after Saturday's game was declared a no contest thanks to lightening delays. The 65 minutes played Saturday afternoon don't count, but including that stretch, the Jets held the Mustangs scoreless in 155 minutes of action this weekend.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Jets get to stay home for another weekend of Heartland Conference play, beginning Thursday against Dallas Baptist.