Friday, November 3
Orlando, Fla. / UCF Soccer and Track Complex
3:30 p.m.
SMU
vs
South Florida
SMU Takes On USF In AAC Semifinal Match
Nov 2 | Women's Soccer
Match Set For 4:30 ET/3:30 CT; Can Be Seen On American Digital Network
No. 6 SMU (10-6-3) vs. No. 2 USF (11-3-1)
American Athletic Conference Tournament – Semifinal
UCF Soccer and Track Complex Location – Orlando, Fla.
Nov. 3, 2017 – 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 CT
WATCH: American Digital Network
AAC Championship Central | American Digital Network (Free) | Live Stats
SMU Notes | USF Notes | American Notes | Ticket Info
Facebook | Twitter
American Athletic Conference Tournament – Semifinal
UCF Soccer and Track Complex Location – Orlando, Fla.
Nov. 3, 2017 – 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 CT
WATCH: American Digital Network
AAC Championship Central | American Digital Network (Free) | Live Stats
SMU Notes | USF Notes | American Notes | Ticket Info
Facebook | Twitter
Currently amidst a season-best five match winning streak, the SMU women's soccer team continues its 2017 postseason on Friday with the American Athletic Conference Semifinals against the USF Bulls. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 CT at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex. The match will be aired on The American Digital Network.
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QUICK HITS:
> SMU is on a five-match winning streak; All shutouts
> SMU is on a 452:26-minute shutout streak
> SMU has eight shutouts this season, the most since 2006 (12)
> SMU is 4-3-1 all-time in the AAC Tournament
> Second straight year going to the semifinal match
> SMU beat Cincinnati to advance to the AAC Semifinal (W, 1-0)
> Vanessa Valadez leads the Mustangs with five goals, three game-winners
> Allie Thornton has 4 goals this season; leads team w/ 61 shots (2nd AAC) and 23 SOG
> Allie Thornton scored the game-winner against Cincinnati in the AAC quarterfinal
> Catie Brown leads The American with eight shutouts
> Haley Thompson leads the team with seven assists; Is T3 in the AAC in assists.
> Hannah Allred has 4 goals on the year including the tournament-clinching strike vs. Houston
> SMU recorded 43 shots against NMSU, the most since Northwestern a year ago
> SMU notched its 400th program history with a 1-0 win against TCU
> SMU has beaten a top-25 opponent in consecutive seasons (Sept. 29, 2016, 1-0 at No. 15 USF; Sept. 18, 2017, 1-0 vs. No. 17 Arkansas)
> 2016 final marks: 13-7-2, 6-2-1 AAC
> 2016 American Athletic Conference Tournament Runner-up; NCAA First Round
> 2016 was SMU's first NCAA tournament since 2006
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ABOUT SMU: On the heels of its fifth straight win, SMU advanced to the AAC semifinal match with a 1-0 win against Cincinnati in the opening round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. SMU is now 10-6-3 overall. Allie Thornton, a second team all-conference selection, netted the AAC quarterfinal game-winner against Cincinnati to advance to Friday. Vanessa Valadez leads the Mustangs with five goals, while Hannah Allred and Allie Thornton each have four on the 2017 campaign. Junior Haley Thompson has seven assists on the season. SMU had two players named to all-conference teams (Claire Oates – First Team, Allie Thornton – Second Team), while adding two to the all-rookie team (Hannah Allred, Isabelle Nashmi).
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LAST TIME OUT (W, 1-0 vs. Cincinnati at UCF): ORLANDO, Fla. (SMU) – The No.6-seeded SMU women's soccer team advanced to the American Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal match Wednesday, topping third-seeded Cincinnati, 1-0, at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex. With the win, SMU stretched its winning streak to five matches and improved to 10-6-3 on the year. The Mustangs will square off against the second-seeded USF Bulls Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 CT. Cincinnati was eliminated from the tournament and fell to 12-4-3 on the season. In the 2nd minute of play, Haley Thompson sent a curling corner kick in to the box, where a shot was put on frame and another was blocked by the Cincinnati defense. Claire Oates roped a third shot, but the attempt was blocked by the defense and sent out of the box. Sophomore Allie Thornton netted the eventual game-winner in the 36th minute to break the scoreless game. After Cincinnati attempted to clear the ball from its own 18-yard box, Oates managed to head a low line-drive right to the feet of Thornton. From 25-yards out, the Arlington, Texas, native roped an uncontested shot into the net past a diving Madison Less. Thornton now has four goals on the season. The SMU defense pitched its eighth shutout of the year, allowing just four shots on goal. In the 6th minute, veteran goalkeeper Catie Brown recorded her first save of the evening, saving a Cincinnati header into the crossbar. The Sacramento, Calif., native recorded her second save in the 31st minute, sending a free kick into the crossbar again to keep the Bearcats off the board. Brown tallied two saves in the second half to preserve the clean sheet. SMU has extended its shutout streak five matches and hasn't allowed a goal over the last 453 minutes of play (452:26).
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SCOUTING USF: USF ended its season 11-3-1 with only one loss and one draw in conference play. The Bulls have a dynamic offense with 32 goals scored by 11 different players. The most notable player in the attack this season has been sophomore forward Evelyne Viens. She leads the squad with 10 goals. USF's attack also features midfielder Andrea Hauksdottir, who leads the team with eight assists.
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ALL-TIME SERIES: Wednesday's match marks the sixth all-time meeting between the two sides. Since the series opened in 2013 when the two forces joined the American Athletic Conference, SMU is 1-3-1. The two squads played to a 0-0 draw in the first meeting, before USF claimed the second and third meetings, 2-1 and 2-0, respectively. In 2016, the Mustangs made a statement by handing then-No. 15 USF its first loss of the year. In the most recent meeting, The Bulls managed a 3-2 win at SMU on Oct. 5.
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LAST TIME AGAINST THE BULLS: (L, 3-2 at SMU) DALLAS (SMU) – A second-half comeback attempt fell short as the SMU women's soccer team was undone by a 3-2 score against the USF Bulls at Westcott Field. Trailing 3-0, freshman Hannah Allred put SMU on the board in the 67th minute of play. The sequence began with a Hailey Bishop pass back to Haley Thompson, who played a ball over the USF backline. Allred was able to collect the loose ball and finish from the top of the 18-yard box. The goal is the third of the season for Allred. Katharine Herron would cut the SMU deficit down to one, 3-2, in the 86th off an SMU set piece. Allie Thornton played a cross into the 18-yard box, where the ball ricocheted to Claire Oates. Oates flicked it on to Herron, who punched it in from 8-yard out. The goal is Herron's first of the season, and second of her career. Despite good late looks from the Mustang offense in the final minutes of play, USF was able to extinguish the final SMU push to close out play. USF scored in the 6th minute to take a 1-0 lead into halftime. The Bulls were able to jump to a 3-0 lead following goals in the 47th and 56th minutes. The Mustangs outshot the Bulls, 14-8, and managed more shots on goal (6-4).
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UP NEXT: With a win against USF, the Mustangs will be playing for a chance to win the American Athletic Conference Championship, as well as the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
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SMU AT THE AAC TOURNAMENT: SMU holds a 4-3-1 record while at the American Athletic Conference Tournament. In its five year history, the Mustangs have advanced to four league tournaments, including the 2016 tournament where SMU reached the championship match.
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In the opening round: 3-0-1
Nov. 1, 2013   vs. Temple      3-0 W
Oct. 31, 2014  vs. Temple      2-1 W
Nov. 2, 2016Â Â Â vs. UCFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1-1 T (2 OT (SMU advanced on PKs, 3-2))
Nov. 1, 2017   vs. Cincinnati  1-0 W
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Second round: 1-2-0
Nov. 3, 2013Â Â Â at #13 UCFÂ Â Â Â Â 0-3 L
Nov. 2, 2014Â Â Â at #19 UCFÂ Â Â Â Â 0-4 L
Nov. 4, 2016   vs. Memphis   1-0 W
Nov. 3, 2017Â Â Â vs. USFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â TBD
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Championship match: 0-1-0
Nov. 6, 2016   at UConn        0-1 L
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COACHING CORNER: Two-time National Coach of the Year and 1995 NCAA Championship Coach Chris Petrucelli is in his sixth season (2017) 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 his 28th season as a head coach, Petrucelli has compiled a 393-164-49 (.689) record. In his sixth season at SMU, Petrucelli has a 53-54-13 (.496) record.
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ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL: Chris Petrucelli's side has been defensively stout of late, currently riding a 453-minute (452:26) shutout streak. Over the last five matches, the SMU defense has allowed just 47 total shots (9.4 per match), while allowing the opposition 12 shots on goal (.255 SOG%). The Mustangs have allowed just 15 corner kicks over that span.
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PUT IT ON THE BOARD: The SMU women's soccer team is 9-2-0 when scoring first. In 2016, the Mustangs were 9-0-0 when scoring first.
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YOUNG AND DANGEROUS: SMU freshmen have accounted for eight of SMU's 25 goals (32 percent) in 2017, all with at least two strikes. Hannah Allred leads the freshmen and is second on the team with four goals. Both Isabelle Nashmi and Katia Novi have a pair of strikes.
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KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOUT YA: SMU has seven header goals this season, three by senior midfielder Claire Oates, two by defender Katharine Herron and one by Isabelle Nashmi and Vanessa Valadez.
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THOR(NTON)'S HAMMER: Through 19 matches, sophomore Allie Thornton leads SMU with 61 shots (2nd AAC) and 22 shots on goal. The striker has four goals on the year, recording three during the regular season, one against Temple, Tulsa and Sam Houston State. The sophomore netted her fourth against Cincinnati in the American Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals. Against New Mexico State, Thornton registered a season-high nine shots. Against No. 16 Oklahoma, she registered eight shots, equaling Oklahoma's team shots total, with three on frame. In 2016, she finished the season tied with a team-high 10 goals and was second on the team with 23 points. Thornton was the first player since Olivia O'Rear (13) in 2006 to score at least 10 goals in a single-season, and the first since Kimber Bailey (2004, 11) to score 10 or more goals in her freshman year. The 10 goals ranks tied for eight on the SMU All-time goals by a freshman list.
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MILESTONE 400!: Redshirt junior Vanessa Valadez netted the eventual game-winner in the 27th minute against TCU to propel SMU to a 1-0 win for the 400th program victory. Since the beginning of the program in 1986, the program record is 406-210-48 (.648). The Mustangs have been coached by six different coaches over that span.
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2017 AAC HONORS:
Claire Oates – First Team All-Conference (Oct. 31)
Allie Thornton – Second Team All-Conference (Oct. 31)
Hannah Allred – All-Rookie Team (Oct. 31), Weekly Honor Roll (Oct. 30)
Isabelle Nashmi – All-Rookie Team (Oct. 31), Weekly Honor Roll (Aug. 28)
Catie Brown – Goalkeeper of the Week (Aug. 28), Weekly Honor Roll (Oct. 23)
Vanessa Valadez – Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 5)
Katia Novi – Weekly Honor Roll (Oct. 23)
Haley Thompson – Weekly Honor Roll (Oct. 30)
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2017 AAC PRESEASON HONORS: The Mustangs were picked to finish second in the American Athletic Conference, receiving three of 10 first place votes by the league's coaches. SMU returns nine of 11 starters from 2016, including three members of the preseason all-conference team: Claire Oates, Vanessa Valadez and Allie Thornton. The trio finished top three in scoring in 2016, with Oates and Thornton leading the way with 10 goals apiece, while Valadez netted nine. Thornton and Valadez were named to the 2016 AAC all-conference first team, while Oates garnered second team honors. Thornton was also named to The American all-rookie team.
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2016 AAC HONORS: SMU head coach Chris Petrucelli was name the American Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year, and five student-athletes were named to AAC All-Conference teams. Following the AAC Championship, four members were named to the AAC All-Tournament Team
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First Team: Allie Thornton & Vanessa Valadez
Second Team: Taylor Barg & Claire Oates
Rookie Team: Allie Thornton & Jessica Cooley
All-Tournament: Catie Brown, Claire Oates, Allie Thornton, Vanessa Valadez
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WESTCOTT FIELD: With the win against No. 21 Cincinnati, SMU clinched a winning season at Westcott Field for the third consecutive season. Since opening in 1994, SMU holds a .712 winning percentage (161-59-20) at Westcott Field. In 23 seasons at Westcott, the Mustangs have finished .500 or better in 22 seasons, with three perfect seasons.
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FREE SOCCER!: Adding to its menu of free, family-friendly events, SMU Athletics will now offer free admission to all Mustang soccer matches beginning this fall. The soccer programs are among 11 SMU sports that offer free admission. Others include volleyball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's golf, rowing and equestrian.
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NCAA RECOGNITION AWARD: SMU women's soccer was one of two SMU athletic programs to earn Public Recognition Awards for their latest multi-year NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rates (APR). This is the second time the women's soccer team has achieved the honor (2013-14, 2015-16). The APR is an annual scorecard of academic achievement calculated for all Division I sports teams and provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation, and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.
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SMU SOCCER PROGRAMS EARN 2016-17 TEAM ACADEMIC AWARDS: Both SMU soccer programs earned the United Soccer Coaches' (formerly the NSCAA) Team Academic Award on Thursday. The teams were recognized for their exemplary performance in the classroom during the 2016-17 academic year. SMU was one of 202 collegiate programs to have both their men and women's teams earn the award. The SMU women's team, which posted a 3.50 team grade-point average for the 2016-17 academic year, has earned the honor for the sixth consecutive season. The SMU men's soccer team earned the academic award for its second consecutive season following a 3.40 GPA. A total of 824 soccer teams (286 men, 538 women) earned the honor. To qualify for the award, the team must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 or higher for the entire academic year. The team GPA is determined by adding every player's GPA, then dividing by the number of players.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's SoccerSunday, October 11
Sunday, October 11
Friday, October 09
Thursday, October 08
