Midwestern State's men soccer team had the bitter taste of defeat in their mouths for five days.

On Thursday night, the No. 3 Mustangs used unranked Incarnate Word as mouthwash, beating them 2-1 in a thrilling, double-overtime win in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Division II men's soccer championship.

Playing on their home field, the Mustangs (18-2) got a game-winning goal in the second overtime by midfielder Rob Humphrey. The win gets them back on the right track after falling to West Texas A&M, 3-2, in their regular season finale on Sunday.

"I thought the loss really brought us back to Earth and refocused us," said Mustang Brian Martinez.

It was the third win this season for the Mustangs over the Cardinals.

"This was the best Incarnate Word team we've faced this year," said Midwestern State coach Doug Elder. "It is hard to beat a team three times in a season."

Freshman Craig Sutherland also scored for the Midwestern State, who dropped from No. 1 in the national rankings to No. 3 with their loss to the Buffalos. The Mustangs were the top-ranked team in the country for three weeks.

The Mustangs got three chances to get on the board in the 22nd minute. Sutherland took a pass and drove down the right side and fired a shot, which was saved beautifully by Cardinal goalkeeper Gil Ben Nachum. Moments later, midfielder Ahmad Ihmeidan crossed it right in front of the goal, but no one was there to take advantage. Sutherland added to the excitement seconds later, but his header was once again saved by Nachum.

After one half of play, the score was still tied at zero. Midwestern State had only managed four shots (two on goal) and Incarnate Word only recorded three shots (zero on goal).

"I was pretty confident on how we played in the first half," sa i d Martinez. "They didn't have many chances at the goal."

Early in the second half, Cardinal forward Esteban Bayona rifled a shot and Mustang goalkeeper Shawn Carr made a spectacular diving save.

Midwestern State got on the board in the 53rd minute. On the left side, Martinez booted it into the middle of the box to Ihmeidan, who tapped it to Sutherland and the freshman sent it to the back of the net.

That lead would be short-lived, though. Two minutes later, Cardinal freshman forward Carlos Gonzalez drove past a diving Carr before tying the game at one. Gonzalez's goal was the first by an opponent at Midwestern State Soccer Field this season.

With less than ten minutes to go in regulation, Mustang Estevao Alexandre was knocked down on the left side for a Cardinal foul. Martinez's free kick sailed into the center of the box, was deflected, and hit off the left post.

Incarnate Word got a good look in the 88th minute, when Michael Terrell shot a l i ne drive from the right side into Carr's arms.

On to overtime.

"I thought our guys had enough energy in overtime to come out strong," said Elder.

The only good look the Mustangs had came when Kyle Kmiec got the ball yards in front of the goal, but his shot was blocked above the crossbar.

On to double-overtime.

The Mustangs were now ten minutes away from having to go to penalty kicks, which has been the kiss of death in the playoffs for Midwestern State the past two seasons.

"I told them after overtime, we are not going to go to penalty kicks," said Elder. "I don't care if we had to throw everything and the kitchen sink at them."

With 7:02 to go, Humphrey got a loose ball on the left side and kicked it off the right post and in and the Midwestern State fans stormed the field in celebration.

"It was flicked twice and I was just hanging out at the back post," said Humphrey, who scored four of his seven goals this season agains t Incarnate Word. "It was a great way to finish."

Midwestern State will take on No. 2 Fort Lewis in the second round, Saturday at Midwestern State Soccer Field at 5 p.m. On Sept. 7, the lone meeting between the two teams on, the Mustangs came out on top, 3-2.

"It doesn't seem fair how they have the region games scheduled, but you'll have to face the good teams eventually," said Elder. "They are a good team, but so are we."