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Oct. 6, 2007
DALLAS (SMU) - Three players scored goals to lead the No. 11 SMU men's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over the visiting UCF Knights, 3-1, Saturday night at a rain-soaked Westcott Field.
With the victory, the Mustangs improve to 6-2-2 on the season, 1-0-1 against C-USA foes. UCF falls to 4-6-1, 0-1-1 in conference games.
Junior midfielder Jeff Harwell put the Ponies on the board in the 14th minute. Sophomore forward Dane Saintus fired a shot off UCF goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who blocked the shot but knocked the ball toward Harwell, who pounced on the loose ball and drilled a shot from eight yards out to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.
In the 63rd minute, junior forward Richard Oliva worked a perfect wall pass (give-and-go) with Saintus, getting a pass from Saintus and scoring from 14 yards out when his shot deflected off a UCF defender and into the goal.
SMU got its final goal in the 80th minute on a free kick, when midfielder Bruno Guarda stepped over the ball as a decoy and defender Ryan Mirsky curled a 25-yard blast into the upper left corner of the net.
UCF got its goal in the 86th minute when Mike Matteson converted a pass from Akin Akindinade. The Knights had more chances, but SMU sophomore goalkeeper Craig Hill made several spectacular saves in his second career start.
Mirsky's goal was his second of the season, and the third of his career. Oliva's goal now gives him a team-leading five goals this season and tie him with Saintus for second on the team scoring list with 10 points.
The Mustangs now go on the road to face Marshall in Huntington, W.V., next Saturday before returning home to Westcott Field Oct. 17 to face UAB. For ticket information and a complete schedule, log on to SMUMustangs.com.
