SMU
USF
Mustangs Open Conference Slate at No.15/18 USF Thursday
Sep 27 | Women's Soccer
| SMU (6-3-0, 0-0-0 The American) at No. 15/18 USF (8-0-0, 0-0-0 The American) | |
| Date / Kickoff Time | Thur., Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. ET/6 CT |
| Location | Corbett Stadium // Tampa, Florida |
| Video | BullVision |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Game Info | Game Notes (.pdf) |
| SMU WSOC | SMU Mustangs | |
| @SMUSoccerW | @SMUMustangs | |
The SMU women's soccer team opens its American Athletic Conference slate Thursday at No. 15/18 USF. The match is set for 7 p.m. ET/6 CT at Corbett Stadium. The game can be followed on BullsVision or via live stats GoUSFBulls.com.
ABOUT SMU: The Mustangs open conference play with a 6-3-0 record after falling to [RV] TCU, 1-0, in double overtime Sunday. As of Tuesday (Sept. 27), SMU leads the NCAA in two statistical categories, while top-5 in seven total categories. In the American Athletic Conference, SMU leads in six statistical categories.
| As of Sept. 27: | ||
| Actual | NCAA/Conference Ranks | |
| Scoring Offense (Avg/G) | 3.44 | 1/1 |
| Total Goals | 31.0 | 4/1 |
| Total Points | 93 | 3/1 |
| Points per game | 10.33 | 1/1 |
| Total Assists | 31 | 4/1 |
| Assists per game | 3.44 | 2/1 |
| Shots on Goal Per Game | 9.67 | 4/-- |
ALL-TIME SERIES: Since the founding of the American Athletic Conference, the two teams have squared off three times with SMU holding a 0-2-1 record against USF. The most recent meeting was last season, where the then-No. 20 Bulls topped SMU, 2-0. The two squads have played once in Tampa, Fla., where USF edged the Mustangs, 2-1.
| All-Time Series: SMU vs. USF |
| H: 0-1-1, A: 0-1, N: 0-0 |
| Year | Date | Location | Result | Score (Opponent Rank) |
| 2013 | O24 | H | T-2OT | 0-0 |
| 2014 | O5 | A | L | 1-2 |
| 2015 | O18 | H | L | 0-2 (20) |
QUICK HITS:
- SMU is outscoring opponents 31-11. SMU is averaging 3.44 goals per game, while the opposition is averaging 1.22.
- SMU has tallied 167 shots, 87 on goal, while holding opponents to 93 shots, 27 on goal.
UP NEXT: Following USF, the Mustangs have a quick turnaround and play at UCF Sunday. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET/12 CT. The game can be streamed via UCFKnights.TV or followed via live stats.
SCOUTING No. 15/18 USF: The Bulls enter the match one of four teams undefeated in the NCAA, boasting an 8-0-0 record, including a 4-0-0 mark at home. Currently ranked at No. 15 by the NSCAA, USF has been ranked for last six games, missing the poll in the first two. As a team, the Bulls have scored 23 goals, averaging 2.88 goals per game, while allowing just five goals, 0.62 per game. Evelyne Viens is second in the NCAA in both points per game (2.63) and goals per game (1.13), while fourth in goals (9) and sixth in points (21). Starting goalkeeper Kat Elliott has a goals against average of 0.70 (5 allowed) with 30 saves.
LAST TIME OUT: In a virtually level match between two even teams, TCU's Allison Ganter found the game-winner in the 109th minute to claim a 1-0 victory in favor of TCU. Each team logged six shots on goal, while TCU managed just two more shots (19-17) overall. Redshirt sophomore Vanessa Valadez led the Mustangs with five shots and three on goal.
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.
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 376-154-44 (.693) record. His record at SMU is 36-44-8 (.455).
BEWARE OF THOR(NTON)'S HAMMER: Freshman forward Allie Thornton leads the team with eight goals and 19 points. The newcomer is second on the team in shots on goal (14) and total shots (27), only to Vanessa Valadez. As of Tuesday (Sept. 27), Thornton is ranked top-20 nationally in four categories, and top-5 in four categories in the AAC.
| Actual | NCAA Rank/Conference Rank | |
| Total Goals | 8 | 13/T2 |
| Goals per game | 0.89 | 9/T2 |
| Total Points | 19 | 17/4 |
| Points per game | 2.11 | 11/3 |
Against Abilene Christian, she scored her first career hat trick on five total shots, and three on goal. The last hat trick by any player or freshman was Claire Oates on Sept. 25, 2014 at Houston.
A HELPING HAND: SMU has tallied 31 assists through nine games, eclipsing last year's total by 10. Vanessa Valadez and Jessica Cooley are knotted at five apiece, passing last season's assist leaders (4). The duo are tied for 29th among all NCAA DI players and tied for first in the American Athletic Conference with five total assists, while 21st in the nation and tied for first in The American with 0.56 assists per game.
WESTCOTT FIELD: 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.
ROSTER: Of the 25 women roster, 16 members are in their freshman or sophomore year of eligibility, while sporting just five seniors. The Mustangs brought in 10 freshman. SMU returns eight starters including five (Vanessa Valadez, Claire Oates, Taylor Barg, Taylor Jackson and Kelsey Gorney) who started every game in 2015.
SCHEDULE: The SMU women's soccer team will play 19 regular season games, with 11 at Westcott Field. The Mustangs will face six opponents that appeared in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, Butler, BYU, Washington, UCF, Connecticut and Cincinnati.
AAC POLL: The SMU women's soccer team has been picked to finish eighth in the American Athletic Conference for the 2016 season. SMU received 20 votes and finished ahead of Houston in the poll. Defending champion Connecticut was the unanimous selection for first place, garnering 81 total points, and nine first-place votes. For the second season in a row, junior Claire Oates was named to the AAC Preseason All-Conference team.
2015 SEASON REVIEW: In 2015, the Mustangs finished 5-10-3 overall, and ninth in the American Athletic Conference with a 2-6-1 conference mark. SMU recorded all five victories (5-5-1 record) at Westcott Field, where the Mustangs converted 19 of its 25 goals. While at Westcott, the Mustangs topped opponents in goals (19-15), shot attempts (154-82), goals scored per game (+.37) and shots per game (+6.5). Vanessa Valadez was named to the AAC All-Rookie team after leading the Mustangs in goals (8), points (20), shots (42) and shots on goal (20), while tying Blair Thorpe and Lissi Lonsberry for the most assists (4). Claire Oates earned All-AAC Second Team honors.
SMU ATHLETICS, SOCCER PROGRAMS TO SEE FACE LIFT: SMU recently announced plans to construct a new Indoor Performance Center, an outdoor natural grass football practice field and a new soccer stadium, another sign of the University's commitment to competing at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. These plans come on the heels of amazing success during SMU's Second Century Campaign, when SMU Athletics secured more than $191 million in gift commitments, and after 18 months of careful planning and design. The new soccer stadium, to be used by SMU's men's and women's soccer teams, will be located on Mockingbird Lane, the site of the current practice fields.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Mustangs by following SMU women's soccer on Twitter at @SMUSoccerW, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SMUSoccerw, and on Instagram at Instagram.com/SMUSoccerW. Twitter at @SMUMustangs or Instagram at SMU.Mustangs.
--SMUMustangs.com--
