Thursday, October 6
Dallas, Texas
7 p.m.
SMU
vs
Connecticut
[RV] SMU Hosts No. 21 Connecticut Thursday
Oct 4 | Women's Soccer
| [RV/NR] SMU (8-3-0, 2-0-0 The American) vs. No.21/15 Connecticut (10-2-0, 2-0-0 The American) | |
| Date / Kickoff Time | Thur., Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. CT |
| Location | Dallas, Texas // Westcott Field |
| Video | PonyUp TV -- PBP: Steve Lansdale // Producer: Spencer Jones |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Game Info | Game Notes (.pdf) |
| SMU WSOC | SMU Mustangs | |
| @SMUSoccerW | @SMUMustangs | |
The [RV/NR] SMU women's soccer team returns to action Thursday as it hosts No. 21/15 Connecticut in its conference home opener. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT. Fans can get tickets by calling 214-SMU-GAME (214-768-4263) or visiting SMUMustangs.com/tickets. All home games will be aired on PonyUp TV, with Steve Lansdale making the call. Live stats are also provided on SMUMustangs.com.
ABOUT SMU: The Mustangs are 8-3-0 and 2-0-0 in American Athletic Conference play after a 3-1 win at UCF Sunday, and a 1-0 upset over No. 15/18 USF Thursday night. As of Tuesday, Oct. 4, SMU leads all NCAA DI programs in scoring offense, while sitting top five in six NCAA statistical categories. The Mustangs also lead the AAC in six statistical categories.
As of Oct. 4:
| Actual | NCAA Rank/Conference Rank | |
| Scoring Offense (Avg/G) | 3.18 | 1/1 |
| Total Goals | 35.0 | 3/1 |
| Total Points | 104.0 | 2/1 |
| Points per game | 9.45 | 2/1 |
| Total Assists | 34.0 | 5/1 |
| Assists per game | 3.09 | 3/1 |
ALL-TIME SERIES: The two teams have squared off four times, with the first meeting in 1996. Connecticut holds a 4-0-0 lead over the Mustangs. In 1996, the two played in Amherst, Mass., where UConn won 4-0. After 17 years without a match, the two squads have squared off once a year for the last three years straight. The most recent meeting was last season, where the UConn topped SMU, 2-1, in Storrs, Conn.
All-Time Series: SMU vs. UConn
Connecticut 0-4
H: 0-1, A: 0-2, N: 0-1
Year Date Location Result Score (Opponent Rank)
1996 S6 N@ L 4-0
2013 S26 A L 2-1
2014 O12 H L 3-1
2015 O25 A L 2-1
@ Amherst, Mass.
SCOUTING CONNECTICUT: The Huskies enter the match 10-2-0, 2-0-0 in The American after a 4-1 win over Memphis Sunday. Connecticut is on a five-game win streak, not having lost since at Florida State on Sept. 8. As a team, UConn has scored 26 goals, 2.17 goals per game, on 222 shots Opposing teams have scored only 12 goals, 1.00 per game. Connecticut is led by Stephanie Ribeiro who has leads the team is goals (12), assists (8), points (32), shots (65), shots on goal (36) and game-winning goals (7). Ribeiro is second in the NCAA in total goals and first in the league in game-winning goals.Rachel Hill is second on the team in goals (10), assists (4), points (24), shots (47) and shots on goal (25).
UP NEXT: Following Connecticut, the Mustangs host Temple Sunday. The match versus Connecticut is slated for 1 p.m. The game can be seen on PonyUp TV or followed via live stats on SMUMustangs.com.
LAST TIME OUT: Freshman Mary Meehan scored in the 81st minute to break a 1-1 tie, and Vanessa Valadez converted a late penalty kick, to lead SMU to a 3-1 victory over UCF Sunday afternoon at the UCF Soccer Complex. With the win, the Mustangs are the first team to sweep both Florida schools on the road since the founding of the American Athletic Conference.
NSCAA POLLS: SMU is receiving votes (3) in the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Poll, and is ranked No. 5 in the Northeast Region. The last time the Mustangs had any form of recognition by the NSCAA was in Oct. 11, 2011's poll, when SMU was ranked 11th in the Central region.
BIG WINS: SMU scored six goals against Abilene Christian Sunday marking the 60th time in program history that the Mustangs have scored five or more goals in a game. When SMU scores at least five goals, the Mustangs hold an undefeated 60-0-0 record, and have posted a clean sheet 36 times. After a cross attempt by Blair Thorpe was headed away by the Bulls, Hannah Fleet collected the rebound and sent a curling cross into the middle of the box. In traffic, Thornton was able to get above a defender and send a header into the upper near corner from nine-yards out. The goal was Thornton's ninth of the season, while Fleet logged her fourth assist.
HEAD COACH CHRIS PETRUCELLI: Two-time National Coach of the Year and 1995 NCAA Championship Coach Chris Petrucelli enters his fifth season (2016) as SMU Head Women's Soccer Coach. A veteran of 20-plus years as a head coach, Petrucelli was named the NSCAA National Coach of the Year in both 1994 and 1995 and was lauded as the NSCAA Central Region Coach of the Year in both 2002 and 2006. In 26 years as a head coach, Petrucelli has compiled a 378-154-44 (.694) record. His record at SMU is 38-44-8 (.467).
BEWARE OF THOR(NTON)'S HAMMER: Freshman forward Allie Thornton leads the team with nine goals and 21 points. The newcomer is second on the team in shots on goal (16) and total shots (29) to Vanessa Valadez (19 and 32). As of Tuesday, Oct. 4, Thornton enters the weekend ranked top-20 nationally in four categories, and top-5 in four categories in the AAC.
| Actual | NCAA Rank/Conference Rank | |
| Total Goals | 9 | 11/T4 |
| Goals per game | 0.9 | 13/T4 |
| Total Points | 21 | 19/5 |
| Points per game | 1.91 | 17/4 |
A HELPING HAND: SMU has tallied 34 assists through 11 games, eclipsing last year's total by 13. Vanessa Valadez leads the team with six, while Jessica Cooley sits at second with five. The duo are 19th and 56 among all NCAA DI players, and tied for second and fourth in the American Athletic Conference, respectively. Valadez sits 19th in the nation and second in The American with 0.55 assists per game, while Cooley is 58th and fourth.
WESTCOTT FIELD: SMU is undefeated at Westcott Field after five games of the 2016 season. Since opening in 1994, SMU holds a .719 winning percentage (152-54-18) at Westcott Field. In 22 seasons at Westcott, the Mustangs have finished .500 or better in 20 seasons, with three perfect seasons.
PROMOTIONS:
- Double Point Night for students with Hilltop Rewards App (worth 120 points)
- Mustangs for a Cure (Breast Cancer Awareness)
- Pink Match, Giving away Pink Vuvuzelas, Pink Jersey Auction
- Autographs
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's SoccerFriday, September 11
Thursday, September 10
Wednesday, September 09
Tuesday, September 08
