Pair Of Non-Conference Matches On Tap For Mustangs
Sep 17 | Women's Soccer
| SMU (3-4-0, 0-0-0 AAC) at TCU (5-3-0, 0-0-0 BIG 12) | |
| Date & Start Time | Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. CT |
| Live Stats | Gametracker |
| Location | Fort Worth, Texas |
| SMU (3-4-0, 0-0-0 AAC) vs Gonzaga (4-4-0, 0-0-0 WCC) | |
| Date & Start Time | Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. CT |
| Live Stats | Gametracker |
| Live Stream | PonyUp TV |
| Location | Westcott Field |
| Game Notes | Match Notes (.pdf) |
| Tickets | SMUtickets.com |
| /SMUMustangs | /SMUSoccerW | |
| @SMUMustangs | @SMUSoccerW | |
DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU women's soccer team will play a pair of tough non-conference opponents this weekend. On Friday, Sept. 19, the Mustangs head to Fort Worth, Texas, to take on in-state rival TCU at 7 p.m. CT. On Sunday, Sept. 21, SMU hosts the Gonzaga Bulldogs at 1 p.m. CT at Westcott Field.
SETTING THE SCENE
The Mustangs have a long history with rival TCU, as Friday night will mark the 30th meeting between the two Texas teams. On the other hand, SMU will play Gonzaga for the first time in program history on Sunday afternoon.
SMU ALL-TIME vs. TCU
SMU has never lost to TCU, going 27-0-2 all-time against the Horned Frogs. On the road, the Mustangs are 14-0-2 all-time against TCU. Last year, SMU toppled TCU, 2-0, behind goals from Shelby Redman and Courtney Smith.
ABOUT THE HORNED FROGS
TCU has posted a 5-3-0 mark on the season and enters the weekend on a four-game winning streak. Sophomore Michelle Prokof and freshman Emma Heckendorn have paced the Frogs so far this season. Heckendorn leads TCU in points with eight, while Prokof has tallied three goals and an assist. Senior goalie Vittoria Arnold has been impressive in net for the Frogs this season, posting an .848 save percentage and four shutouts. The Horned Frogs are coached by Eric Bell, who is in his third season at the helm.
Last weekend, the Frogs notched road wins over Sam Houston State and Texas State. SMU and TCU have had one common opponent so far this season, Missouri. The Mustangs lost to the Tigers, 3-1, and TCU also lost to the Tigers, 2-1, in overtime.
SMU ALL-TIME vs. GONZAGA
The Mustangs and the Zags have never met on the pitch before.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Gonzaga has posted a 4-4-0 record so far this season. Sophomore Karley Baggerly leads the Bulldogs in goals with four, while senior Cassie Geerdts has tallied two goals and two assists. Junior keeper Christie Tombari has recorded three shutouts in goal for the Bulldogs. Gonzaga is coached by Amy Edwards, who is entering her fifth season.
Last weekend, the Zags went 1-1, defeating Boise State, 2-0, and losing to Washington State, 2-1, in overtime.
SMU BY THE NUMBERS
20: Senior forward Shelby Redman scored her 20th career goal against Oral Roberts, placing her 17th all-time on the SMU scoring list. The Austin, Texas, native is one goal away from tying Marci Miller for 16th all-time.
361: Head Coach Chris Petrucelli has 361 career wins as a Division I women's soccer head coach, making him one of the winningest coaches in NCAA history. Before coming to SMU, Petrucelli coached at Texas and Notre Dame, winning a national championship with the Fighting Irish in 1995. Petrucelli was also named National Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1995.
46: SMU ranks fourth in the American Athletic Conference this season with 46 corner kicks. The Mustangs have scored two goals this season on corner kicks. Freshman Claire Oates and sophomore Paige Jacobs have tallied goals on corners, both of whom were taken by sophomore Taylor Barg.
2: Sophomore defender Taylor Barg and senior forward Shelby Redman have both tallied two assists so far this season, good for ninth in the American Athletic Conference. Last year, Barg was eighth in the conference with six assists.
3.67: Junior goalkeeper Lissi Lonsberry has totaled 22 saves in six games, giving her an average of 3.67 saves per game. With that number, Lonsberry is tied for fourth in The American in saves per game.
SMU LAST WEEKEND
The Mustangs' lone match last weekend was a road contest at Colorado State. SMU used an goal midway through the first half to pull out the 1-0 victory.
With the win, the Mustangs improved to 3-4-0 on the season.
SMU 1, COLORADO STATE 0
On a chilly afternoon in Fort Collins, Colorado, the SMU women's soccer team toppled the Colorado State Rams, 1-0, to win its second consecutive match.
With temperatures in the low 40s, Friday night's game was by far the coldest game of the year so far for the Mustangs.
"It was a tough environment. High altitude, cold weather, long grass," said Head Coach Chris Petrucelli. "But, we fought hard and were able to overcome the elements."
SMU (3-4-0, 0-0-0 AAC) went ahead 1-0 in the 21st minute when senior forward Shelby Redman sent a shot off the crossbar. Freshman Lauren Guerra was there to gather the rebound and beat Colorado State goalkeeper Jesse McGinley. The score was Guerra's first of her career.
"We're looking for people to step up, especially with the absence of Vanessa (Valadez)," said Petrucelli. "Lauren is one player we're certainly hoping can fill that role."
In the 34th minute, SMU had an opportunity to push its lead to two, when sophomore Taylor Barg sent in a dangerous corner kick, but no one was there to finish on the back post.
Colorado State (1-4-0, 0-0-0 MWC) had its best chance of the half in the 36th minute, when substitute Jessica Jochheim lofted a long shot that went high of the target.
The Mustangs controlled the possession for most of the first half and outshot the Rams, 6-4, in the opening segment. SMU also had two corner kicks, while Colorado State had zero.
In the second half, the Mustang defense, led by senior Olivia Elliott, thwarted any attack that Colorado State could put together in the early part of the half.
In the 71st minute, SMU had a chance to extend its lead to two when a Barg corner kick found the head of freshman Claire Oates, but her shot was saved by McGinley.
Late in the game, the Rams had a barrage of opportunities, but junior goalkeeper Lissi Lonsberry made several key stops to protect the SMU lead. In the 76th minute, Lonsberry made a kick save on a low shot from Colorado State's Jochheim. Minutes later, in the 82nd minute, Lonsberry stopped a header from the Rams' Jami Vaughn.
Lonsberry, who notched for second shutout of the season, recorded six saves for SMU, while Redman led the team in shots with three.
With a mid-October road trip to Cincinnati, Friday's game might not be the only time the Mustangs play in frigid conditions.
"Knowing that we can handle whatever is thrown at us builds confidence," said Petrucelli.
SMU THIS SEASON
MUSTANGS PICKED TO FINISH 5TH IN AAC
The American Athletic Conference announced the 2014 women's preseason poll. The SMU women's soccer team was selected to finish fifth. The Mustangs finished eighth in the AAC in 2013 with a 3-5-1 conference record.
MUSTANGS EARN PRESEASON HONORS
Shelby Redman, a senior, was named to The American's preseason all-conference team. The Austin, Texas, native was named Second Team All-AAC in 2013 after leading the Mustangs in goals with eight.
Taylor Barg, Rikki Clarke, and Redman also received preseason accolades from College Sports Madness, the website announced in August. Barg was named to the first team, while Clarke and Redman were given second team honors.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
So far in its non-conference slate, SMU has played three teams that have received national recognition from the NSCAA. The Mustangs opened the season with Nebraska, who was ranked 13th at the time. SMU have also played Kansas, who is ranked 16th in the latest poll, and Missouri, who received votes in previous polls.
NEW FACES
SMU welcomes eight freshmen and one transfer to this year's squad. The freshman class, one that Petrucelli has been working on since he first stepped foot on the Hilltop, has the head coach optimistic for this season.
In addition to the freshmen, sophomore Paige Jacobs transferred to SMU from Oklahoma. Jacobs was named to the All-Big 12 Newcomer team as a freshman.
SMU has received key contributions from the newcomers this season. Freshman Claire Oates leads the team in goals (2) and points (5), while freshmen Vanessa Valadez and Lauren Guerra have both scored a game-winning goal. Jacobs has also added a goal.
STRONG IN NET
Junior Lissi Lonsberry has stepped in as the starting goalkeeper for the Mustangs, after injuries sidelined Lauryn Bodden and Shannon Moroney. Lonsberry, who played midfield and forward in her first two season, has been impressive in net. She tallied her first career shutout against Texas Southern (Aug. 29) and recorded another shutout at Colorado State (Sept. 12).
Lonsberry has totaled 22 saves in six games, giving her an average of 3.67 saves per game. With that number, Lonsberry is tied for fourth in The American in saves per game.
CHASING HISTORY
Senior forward Shelby Redman has put together a remarkable career so far on the Hilltop. Redman, in her fifth season with the team, has totaled 20 career goals, placing her 17th on the all-time scoring list. The Austin, Texas, native has also accumulated 52 points in her career, good for 19th all-time in school history. Also, Redman's 182 career shots rank as the 12th most in SMU history.
SMU All-Time Goals Leaders
13. Amy Kline 25 1993-96
14. Kim Brown 24 1996-97
15. Kenzie Scovill 22 2009-12
16. Marci Miller 21 1996-97
17. Shelby Redman 20 2010-Present
LOOKING AHEAD
Next week, the Mustangs will open up their conference slate with a mid-week match at Houston on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. CT. SMU will then host BYU on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. CT.
