Clinton, Miss.--- The Mississippi College Choctaws fell to the Delta State Statesmen 3-2 in a GSC quarterfinal matchup on Sunday at Robert P. Longabaugh Field.  

The eighth-seeded Statesmen had a big first half, with goals coming in the 25th and 32nd minute via headers from Santi Rossi and Malo Clément, assisted by Arturo Riestra.  

The 33rd minute saw a red card handed to Eldi Seiti after his foot connected with the face of Choctaw defender Benedikt Strauchmann. The Statesmen would take their 2-0 lead into the halftime break despite the Choctaws having more shots in the half 10-6.

The second half was a stalemate for much of the early going as the Statesmen, playing a man down, stayed mostly in the defensive half of the field for the first part of the half.  However, a mistake in the 67th minute gave the Choctaws some life as Max Buesch connected on a penalty kick following a handball where Hardy Lewis of the Statesmen caught the ball as it was coming back towards the pitch after being kicked in the air.  

Buesch struck again just minutes later as he converted off an assist by Pawemi Kumwenda to tie it at 2-2 in the 72nd minute.  

But the Statesmen struck back just seconds later and made it 3-2 with their own 72nd-minute goal by Ryan Thistle courtesy of Sam Wark.  Despite several shots in the closing minutes, the Choctaws were not able to get back on the board and the Statesmen came away with the win.  

The match was a physical and chippy one, and there were plenty of cards to show for it as the Choctaws received six yellow cards and the Statesmen received two yellows and a red.  

In goal for the Choctaws Cole Turner allowed three goals and had one save while for the Statesmen Daniel Santema allowed two and had 11 saves.  The Choctaws had more total shots 29-9 and shots on goal 13-4.  

The Choctaws now await selection Monday to learn whether they will be able to continue their season in an NCAA regional.