No. 12 Mustangs Host Tulsa, Travel to No. 13 USF
Oct 20 | Men's Soccer
| No. 12 SMU (10-2-2, 5-0 AAC) vs. Tulsa (6-5-2, 2-2-1 AAC) | |
| Date & Start Time | Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. CT |
| Location | Westcott Field |
| Game Notes | Game Notes |
| Live Stats | Gametracker |
| Live Video | Watch Live |
| /SMUMustangs | /SMUSoccerM | |
| @SMUMustangs | @SMUSoccerM | |
| No. 12 SMU (11-2-2, 6-0 AAC) at No.13 USF (10-3-1, 5-0-1 AAC) | |
| Date & Start Time | Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. CT |
| Location | Corbett Stadium |
| Game Notes | Game Notes |
| Live Stats | Gametracker |
| Live Video | American Digital Network |
| /SMUMustangs | /SMUSoccerM | |
| @SMUMustangs | @SMUSoccerM | |
The Week Ahead…
Coming off a 1-0 double overtime victory over Cincinnati, the SMU men's soccer team hosts Tulsa for the second conference meeting between the teams this season on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. CT at Westcott Field. The Mustangs take on No. 13 USF on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. CT at Corbett Stadium for their final road match of the season.
On the National Stage…
In the NSCAA Coaches Poll, the Mustangs checked in at No. 12, moving up nine spots from last week's No. 21 ranking. The Mustangs currently sit in first place in the American Athletic Conference standings with a record of 5-0, 10-2-2 overall, and post an eight match unbeaten streak.
In the College Soccer News National Poll, SMU sits at No. 13 and is ranked No. 19 in the Top Drawer National Ranking.
Scouting The Golden Hurricane…
Tulsa enters Wednesday's match with a 6-5-2 overall record, and a 2-2-1 record in AAC play. Juan Sanchez leads the Hurricane with 12 points (five goals, two assists), while Miguel Velasquez leads the team in shots with 27. Goalkeeper Jake McGuire has recorded 42 saves through 930 minutes and is posting a 1.16 goals-against-average.
Series History…
The Mustangs are 29-8-3 all-time against Tulsa with the last match being this season on Sept. 26 when SMU defeated Tulsa, 1-0.
Scouting The Bulls…
USF enters Saturday's match with an overall record of 10-3-1, and a 5-0-1 record in The American. Nazeem Bartman leads the Bulls with 15 points (five goals, five assists), and leads the team in shots with 37. Goalkeeper Spasoj Stefanovic has tallied 40 saves and is posting a .61 goals-against-average with seven shutouts.
Series History…
The Mustangs are 1-3-1 all-time against USF with the last match being in 2014 when the Mustangs battled the Bulls to a 2-2 draw.
Looking Back…
In a 1-0 win over Cincinnati, sophomore Mauro Cichero scored the game-winning goal with three minutes remaining in double overtime. His goal came after a scramble in the box when he got his head on a Jared Rice throw in. The goal was Cichero's ninth of the season and the assist was Rice's eighth this year, a team high. Goalkeeper Michael Nelson recorded six saves in the net and tallied his sixth shutout of the season.
American Honors…
Cichero was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this year after his performance against Cincinnati.
The award is the Mustangs' seventh player of the week this season with Nelson earning Goalkeeper of the Week on Oct. 12, Cichero earning Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 5 and Sept. 7, Emil Cuello earning Rookie of the Week on Oct. 5 and Sept. 21 and Rice earning Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 28.
SMU leads the conference in shots (215) and assists per game (29).
Change In Leadership…
Former SMU standout Kevin Hudson is in his first season as the Ponies' head coach after being named the fourth head coach in the program's history on Jan. 9, 2015. Hudson spent seven seasons as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2014 season after returning to the Hilltop in 2007.
Up Next…
The Mustangs return to the Hilltop to host Temple in their final conference game of the season on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. CT. The match will serve as senior day for John Lujano, Idi Camara, Jacob Speed and Danny McQuaid. For ticket information, go to www.smumustangs.com/tickets.
