Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF)
Oct. 21, 2017
CINCINNATI (SMU) – For the second straight match,
Garrett McLaughlin scored a pair of goals as No. 14 SMU defeated Cincinnati, 2-0, Saturday night at Gettler Stadium.
Last week, McLaughlin led the Mustangs to a 2-0 non-conference victory against Oral Roberts. He has now recorded multiple goals in three of the last four matches.
A few hours prior to the match, the SMU football team outlasted Cincinnati, 31-28, in overtime at nearby Nippert Stadium. The Mustang men's soccer team also kept the Bearcats (6-7-1, 0-5 American) winless in conference play improving to 12-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
SMU wasted little time getting on the board with
Bryce Clark finding McLaughlin inside the box for his first goal. McLaughlin chested down the pass from Clark and lobbed the ball over Cincinnati's keeper in the sixth minute to give SMU a 1-0 lead.
With a 1-0 lead at the half, SMU extended its lead in the 58th minute with McLaughlin heading in his second goal of the night. The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, native first attempt was saved, but he headed in the rebound for his 12th tally of the season. McLaughlin leads the team in points (26), goals (12) and game-winners (6).
With the win, SMU sits in a tie for first in The American with Connecticut (7-5-2, 4-1 American), while USF is in third with a 3-1-1 record in league play and 6-5-2 overall.
Michael Nelson continues his stellar play between the posts recording his seventh shutout of the season. The two-time American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Year registered two spectacular saves to give him 37 on the season.
SMU's backline, consisting of
Jordan Cano,
Talen Maples,
Eddie Munjoma,
Philip Ponder and
Jared Rice, have played a major role in the shutouts and did so again Saturday. Cincinnati was held to eight shots with only two on goal.
The Mustangs are off to their best start through 14 matches since 2010, when the Mustangs began the season 13-1.
SMU continues conference play in Tampa, Florida to face USF Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Mustangs by following the SMU Men's Soccer Team on Twitter at @SMUSoccerM, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SMUSoccerM, and on Instagram at Instagram.com/SMU_MSOC. Follow SMU Athletics on Twitter at @SMUMustangs or Instagram at SMU.Mustangs.
