Sept. 17, 2014
The Week Ahead...
SMU continues its stint on the Hilltop with a single game against Oral Roberts on Friday evening. The Mustangs have Sunday off before stepping back into action on Sept. 26 when they host Tulsa for the first American Athletic Conference match of 2014.
Scouting The Golden Eagles...
Oral Roberts is 2-1-1 overall entering Friday evening's match with the Mustangs. After going undefeated in its first three matches, the Golden Eagles fell 4-1 at Tulsa on Sept. 16. Johnny Chavez leads the team with four points (2g), and three other players have accounted for tallies. Alex White is the team's assist leader with a pair. In goal, Ben LaCourse has played every minute posting a 1.37 goal-against-average and registering 26 save with one shutout.
Series History...
The Mustangs are 5-0 all-time against the Golden Eagles, with all matches played in Dallas. In the most recent meeting, SMU came away with a 3-2 double overtime victory on Sept. 22, 2007.
Looking Back...
SMU went 1-1 in their annual SMU Invitational held Sept. 12 and 14. In their opening match the Mustangs dropped a 1-0 decision to tournament co-champion Missouri State, but went on to defeat Stony Brook 3-1 in the final match.
Idrissa Camara had a pair of goals in the win, including the match winner, while Stanton Garcia also added his second of the year. For his efforts, Camara, along with John Lujano, were named to the all-tournament team.
On A Roll...
SMU men's soccer player Idrissa Camara has been honored on the latest edition of the weekly honor roll by the American Athletic Conference.
Camara, a junior forward from Denver, Colorado contributed to a 3-1 win over Stony Brook in the SMU Invitational by scoring two goals, one of which was the game-winner. The forward had an exceptional weekend scoring in just the second minute against Stony Brook and contributing two shots in the team's first game against Missouri State. Camara has played in all five of the Mustangs' games and is expected to continue contributing to the team's success in the future.
Colten Habecker and Michael Nelson have also earned weekly honor roll accolades this season, making it three-straight weeks for the Mustangs.
No Place Like Home...
The Mustangs played their home opener on Sept. 5 and came away with a 3-1 victory over the Duke, who was receiving votes in the NSCAA poll. SMU will play all its September matches (five) on the Hilltop and have its first game of October at home as well. The Mustangs match against American opponent UCF on Oct. 4 is the next road event.
There's A Method To Their Madness...
Seniors Damian Rosales and Andrew Morales and junior Jacob Speed were named to College Sports Madness All-American Athletic Conference Preseason Teams on Aug. 13.
Dallas native Rosales, who was honored as a first-team selection, was a unanimous All-American Athletic Conference preseason selection a season ago and started all 17 matches for the Mustangs. In 2013, he was tied for second on the team in assists, and he enters the 2014 season with 56 appearances in an SMU uniform, the most of any current Mustang.
Second-team selection Morales, who is in his third season on the Hilltop, led SMU in goals and total points in 2013. The Rocky Mount, North Carolina, native played in all 17 matches. Speed was also named to the second-team after appearing in every game a season ago.
In 2013, Rosales and Speed were honored as first-team selections, while Morales earned a second-team nod.
American Outlook...
The American Athletic Conference announced the 2014 men's soccer preseason poll and honors on Monday, and the SMU men's soccer team was picked to finish sixth in the Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Mustangs, who finished seventh in the regular season in 2013 with a 2-4-2 conference record, are up one spot in the polls ahead of Memphis and Cincinnati. SMU defeated Cincinnati on the road last season, 3-1, but fell to Memphis, 3-2.
Leading the way for The American this season with seven first place votes is UConn, who advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2013 NCAA Tournament. American Tournament champion USF is picked second with one first place vote, and league newcomer Tulsa rounds out the top three.
UCF and Temple, a pair of teams the Mustangs played to draws last season, sit at fourth and fifth, respectively.
Returning For More...
The Mustangs return 12 letterwinners from the 2013 squad, including point leader and senior Andrew Morales. In his two seasons at SMU, Morales has totaled eight goals and five assists. Also returning is senior Damian Rosales, who was a unanimous preseason all-conference selection a season ago. Rosales has 56 matches under his belt in a Mustang uniform, the most of any current player.
Welcome To The Hilltop...
The Mustangs welcome 10 student-athletes to the Hilltop for the 2014 season, including a pair of transfers who enrolled during the spring semester. The 2014 fall enrollees include seven true freshmen and a junior transfer.
