Sept. 6, 2017
DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU men's soccer team embarks on its first road trip of the season with the Mustangs heading to California for a pair of matches against No. 1 Stanford and Santa Clara. SMU will first play the Cardinal Thursday at 10 p.m. CT/8 p.m. PT before facing the Broncos Saturday at 9:30 p.m. CT/7:30 p.m. PT.
Both games will be streamed live with the SMU-Stanford game on the Pac-12 Network, while the SMU-Santa Clara match can be viewed on TheW.tv.
QUICK KICKS
- Head Coach
Kevin Hudson has a 24-12-5 record on the Hilltop.
- The Mustangs recorded wins against Oakland and Cornell to win the SMU Tournament last week.
- Five Mustangs were named to the SMU Tournament All-Tournament Team.
- SMU is the only American Athletic Conference team that remains undefeated 3-0-0.
- The Mustangs are receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches' Poll.
- SMU leads The American in points (8.00) and goals (2.67) per game.
- The Mustangs last match against the No. 1 ranked team was at Indiana on Aug. 30, 2013 (L, 2-1).
- SMU's last win against the No. 1 ranked team was at home against Indiana on Sept. 12, 1998 (W, 2-0).
- Cichero is tied for third in the NCAA in goals (1.33) and tied for ninth in points per game (2.67).
- Cichero has 19 career goals, including eight game winners.
-
Garrett McLaughlin was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week (9/4).
- McLauglin has six goals, including two this season and two game winners in only 19 career games.
- Cichero was joined by
Jordan Cano, McLaughlin and
Michael Nelson on the preseason all-conference team.
- Cichero earned preseason Top Drawer Soccer Best XI honor.
- Nelson was named The American preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
- Cichero was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List and Top Drawer Soccer Best XI.
- McLaughlin was the 2016 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year.
- Cano and Cichero were named all-conference second team last year.
LAST TIME OUT – SMU BLANKS CORNELL, 3-0; WINS SMU TOURNAMENT (Sept. 3, 2017)
The SMU men's soccer team scored twice in the first five minutes of the second half to put away Cornell, 3-0, Sunday night at Westcott Field. Combined with the victory Friday against Oakland, the Mustangs won the SMU Tournament. With the win, SMU extends its win streak to three (3-0), while Cornell fell to 0-1-1.
ABOUT SMU (THE AMERICAN)
SMU is led by head coach Kevin Hudson, who has 21 letterwinners returning, including eight starters from last season. The Mustangs were selected to finish fifth in the preseason poll of the eight-team American Athletic Conference, a league that sent two teams (Tulsa, USF) to the 2016 NCAA Tournament. SMU (3-0-0) is the only undefeated team remaining in The American and is currently receiving votes in the United Coaches' Poll. The Mustangs won their season opener against UC Davis (3-2), followed by two wins last week against Oakland (2-1) and Cornell (3-0) at the SMU Tournament. SMU went 6-9-1 overall and 2-4-1 in conference play in 2016.
ABOUT STANFORD (PAC-12)
Stanford is the reigning two-time NCAA Champion and is currently ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches' Poll. The Cardinal (3-0-0) were picked to win the Pac-12 and have defeated San Jose State (4-0), No. 23 Creighton (3-0) and Northeastern (1-0) to open the season. Foster Langsdorf leads the nation in goals (5), goals per game (1.67), and is second in points per game (3.33). Langsdorf was joined by teammates Tomas Hilliard-Arce, Drew Skundrich and Logan Panchot on the preseason Best XI teams by Top Drawer Soccer. Both Langsdorf and Hilliard-Arce were also named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
SMU-STANFORD SERIES HISTORY
SMU and Stanford will meet for the eighth time, with the Cardinal holding the lead (4-2-1). The Mustangs fell at home to then-No. 13 Stanford in their last match, 3-2, on Sept. 13, 2015. SMU's last win in the series was Sept. 5, 2008 with the Mustangs shutting out the Cardinal, 2-0.
LAST TIME AGAINST STANFORD (L, 3-2 at Westcott Field on Sept. 13, 2015):
Christian Boorom and
Mauro Cichero each tallied a goal in the SMU men's soccer team's loss to No. 13 Stanford Sunday night at Westcott Field. Stanford (5-1) opened the action up in the 10th minute of play, as senior Brandon Vincent found the back of the net on a penalty kick to put the Cardinal up 1-0. In the second half, Stanford went up 2-0 in the 46th minute after Jordan Morris punched it in off a cross from his teammate, Eric Verso. The lead didn't last long as SMU (2-2-2) freshman Boorom tallied his first collegiate goal and put the Mustangs on the board in the 61st minute to set the score at 2-1. Boorom's goal came after teammate
Brenden Lee dribbled around three Stanford defenders and crossed it into a waiting Boorom six feet out from the goal. In the 87th minute, Cichero scored the equalizer to even the score at 2-2 and eventually pushed the match into overtime. Cichero struck the ball perfectly off a 25 yard free kick and placed it in the upper right hand corner of the goal.
Stanford 2-4-1
H: 0-3, A: 1-1, N: 1-0-1
1989 S29 H$ L 1-0
2000 D2 A W 2-1 (6)
2002 S6 A L 3-2 (1)
2003 S19 N@ T-2OT 0-0
2004 S5 H$ L 2-0
2008 S5 N% W 2-0
2015 S13 H L-2OT 3-2 (13)
(-) Ranking
$ SMU Classic (Dallas, Texas)
@ Tulsa Classic (Tulsa, Okla.)
% Cal Classic (Berkley, Calif.)
ABOUT SANTA CLARA (WEST COAST)
Santa Clara has played a tough schedule early with the Broncos falling to No. 6 Maryland (4-2) and No. 19 West Virginia (2-0). The Broncos are led by senior defender Valdemar Andersen, who was named to the All-West Coast Conference preseason team. Santa Clara was picked by the coaches to finish seventh in the conference.
SMU-SANTA CLARA SERIES HISTORY
SMU and Santa Clara will meet for the sixth time, with the Broncos holding the lead (3-1-1). The Mustangs' only victory in the series was a 2-0 decision at home on Oct. 29, 1994. Most recently, SMU fell to Santa Clara, 1-0, at Westcott Field on Sept. 16, 2016.
LAST TIME AGAINST SANTA CLARA (L, 1-0 at Westcott Field on Sept. 16, 2016):
The SMU men's soccer team fell to Santa Clara at Westcott Field in a 1-0 decision. The Mustangs are now 2-5-0, while the Broncos improve to 4-2-0. The first period ended with a 0-0 tie despite an 11 to one Mustang advantage in shots. However, the Broncos would rally in the second half, outshooting SMU seven to six in the second period.
Garrett McLaughlin led all Mustangs in shots with four, three of which were on goal.
Emil Cuello recorded three shots on goal in a strong offensive attack.
Santa Clara 1-3-1
H: 1-0, A: 0-2-1, N: 0-1
1993 O1 A@ L 1-0 (21)
1994 O29 H$ W 2-0 (17)
1998 N21 A# L 1-0 (21)
2003 S7 N% L 3-1
2003 N21 A# T-2OT 1-1
2016 S16 H L 0-1
(-) Ranking
# NCAA Tournament
$ SMU Classic (Dallas, Texas)
@ Santa Clara Classic (Santa Clara, Calif.)
% LMU Classic (Los Angeles, Calif.)
MCLAUGHLIN NAMED AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Sept. 4, 2017)
Garrett McLaughlin was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week. McLaughlin netted two goals on four shots and tallied an assist (5 points) to earn his first weekly player of the week honor and be named to the SMU Tournament All-Tournament team. The 2016 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year now has two on the year, six in his career.
CICHERO NAMED AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Aug. 28, 2017)
Mauro Cichero was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week. The senior forward recorded his first career hat trick in a 3-2 victory against UC Davis in the season opener on Friday. The MAC Hermann Trophy candidate scored two goals late to rally the Mustangs and now has 18 career goals, including seven game winners. He leads the conference in points (six) and goals (three). Cichero won the league's first weekly honor, giving him four for his career. In 2015, he was named player of the week three times helping lead SMU to conference regular season title and was also named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
HUDDY'S HOME
Going into his third year at the helm, head coach
Kevin Hudson has compiled a 24-12-5 (.646) record, including a 19-8-1 (.696) record at Westcott Field. During Hudson's nine years on the Hilltop, the Mustangs have reached the NCAA Tournament on five occasions, advancing as far as the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2010. In 2010 and 2012, SMU earned the Conference USA regular season title, and in 2011 the squad won the tournament championship. In his first year as head coach, Hudson's team claimed the 2015 American Athletic Conference regular season title and advanced to the NCAA Round of 16. Hudson and his coaching staff were named the 2015 AAC Coaching Staff of the Year. The Mustangs have amassed a 106-63-23 (.611) record during Hudson's tenure.
THERE'S (MAUR-O) WHERE THAT CAME FROM
Mauro Cichero has garnered several preseason accolades heading into the 2017 season. Cichero has been named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, the TopDrawerSoccer.com Best XI second team and the preseason all-conference team. The Norman, Oklahoma native earned second team all-conference honors last season after playing in 15 games for the Mustangs, scoring three goals on 44 shots with one assist. As a sophomore, Cichero helped lead the Mustangs to a 15-3-4 record, a conference regular season title and to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2015. The senior forward was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Year and a unanimous First-Team All-Conference selection. Cichero finished his second season on the Hilltop ranked first on the team in goals (10), points (29) and shots (71), and second in assists (9). On the Hilltop, Cichero has started 55 matches and has tallied 19 goals, including eight game winners, and 14 assists. Cichero is tied for third in the NCAA in goals per game (1.33) and tied for ninth in points per game (2.67). He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the SMU Tournament.
THE KEEPER
A season after starting 15 matches for the Mustangs, senior
Michael Nelson returns as the starting keeper. For the third consecutive season, Nelson has been named the 2017 American Athletic Conference Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. The two-time conference Goalkeeper of the Year (2014, 2015) recorded 55 saves, three shutouts last season, while posting a 1.16 goals against average to go with a .764 save percentage. Nelson has amassed 18 career shutouts on the Hilltop, including his first one of the season in a 3-0 win against Cornell.
G-MAC
Garrett McLaughlin returns for his sophomore campaign on the Hilltop after being named the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year last season. McLaughlin played in all 16 games and started seven for the Mustangs. The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, native, led the team with 11 points off a team-high four goals, including a goal against then-No. 16 Akron in an eventual, 4-3, Mustang victory in overtime and the game-tying goal against Connecticut. McLaughlin was also credited with three assists and finished second on the team in shots on goal with 12. He was also named to the conference Weekly Honor Roll for the week of Oct. 17. McLaughlin earned his second career conference weekly honor this week after netting two goals on four shots in wins against Oakland and Cornell. He was also named to the SMU Tournament All-Tournament team.
THE JORDAN STOPPER
Senior
Jordan Cano is the most experienced defender on the Mustangs' roster and has been named to the all-conference second team the past two years. Last season, he scored in back-to-back matches against Memphis and Cincinnati, earning four total points. Cano has been consistent and reliable in the backline for the Mustangs playing in 37 games with 36 starts the last two years. The Frisco, Texas, native was also named to the All-Rookie team in 2014.
EDDIE-NATIONAL
Defender
Eddie Munjoma was named to the U.S. Under-19 Men's National Team domestic training camp roster. Munjoma was one of 22 players called to attend the eight-day camp from February 3-10 in Sunrise, Florida. As a freshman last season, Munjoma started 12 of 13 games for SMU and played 1,149 minutes on the pitch. He tallied four points on four assists, including three assists against then-No.16 Akron helping the Mustangs beat the Zips 4-3 in overtime.
2017 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PRESEASON HONORS
Four Mustangs were named to the preseason All-American Athletic Conference team, the league announced. SMU was picked to finish fifth in the conference, receiving one of the eight first place votes by the league's coaches. The Mustangs return eight starters from last season, including
Jordan Cano,
Mauro Cichero,
Garrett McLaughlin and
Michael Nelson, who all made the preseason all-conference team.
2016 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONORS
Forward
Garrett McLaughlin was named American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, while defender
Jordan Cano and midfielder
Mauro Cichero were named to The American All-Conference second team.
Rookie of the Year:
Garrett McLaughlin
Second Team:
Jordan Cano and
Mauro Cichero
2017 MEN'S SOCCER WATCH LISTS/PRESEASON HONORS
JORDAN CANO
All-American Athletic Conference
MAURO CICHERO
MAC Hermann Trophy
Top Drawer Soccer Best XI
All-American Athletic Conference
GARRETT MCLAUGHLIN
All-American Athletic Conference
MICHAEL NELSON
American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Year
All-American Athletic Conference
2017 MEN'S SOCCER SEASON HONORS/AWARDS
JORDAN CANO
SMU Tournament All-Tournament Team
MAURO CICHERO
SMU Tournament Most Outstanding Player (MOP)
American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week (Aug. 28, 2017)
GARRETT MCLAUGHLIN
SMU Tournament All-Tournament Team
American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 4, 2017)
MICHAEL NELSON
SMU Tournament All-Tournament Team
CALEB SMITH
SMU Tournament All-Tournament Team
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
The Mustangs return 21 letterwinners, including eight starters from last season, while adding 11 newcomers to the roster. The 2017 recruiting class consists of
Joshua Berney,
Ryan Capo,
Matteo DeFina,
Nicky Hernandez,
Noah Hilt,
Talen Maples,
Dakota Okwuone,
Luke Thompson,
Austin Vincent,
Patrick Wintergalen and graduate transfer
Tyler Long.
MEN'S SOCCER HIGH SCHOOL COACHES DAY (Aug. 19, 2017)
SMU men's soccer head coach
Kevin Hudson and staff hosted a coaches day Saturday, Aug. 19 at Westcott Field, which was open to high school coaches. The event provided insight to the day-to-day operations of the program, while also giving coaches an inside look at the preparation that takes place before matches.
WESTCOTT FIELD
One of the most popular soccer venues in the country, Westcott Field, is the home turf for both the SMU men's and women's soccer teams. Both teams began competing at Westcott Field in 1994. The grass facility was used as a training site for the Dallas venue of World Cup USA '94. Teams from Germany, Bulgaria, Sweden and Holland practiced there before their games at the Cotton Bowl. Within more recent years, Westcott Field has climbed the charts as one of the nation's exciting soccer stadiums. In 2001, Westcott Field ranked among the highest attended facilities during the SMU men's team No. 1 reign for 14 weeks, as well as the women's team march to the Western Athletic Conference Title. In 2004, the Mustangs added a press box to the stadium featuring attractive lettering and the Mustangs' past champions. Before the 2006 season, SMU installed a new turf and a state-of-the art drainage system.
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. SMU will host a combined 22 matches at Westcott Field, 12 women's games and 10 men's games.
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.
UP NEXT
After a pair of matches on the road, SMU returns home to host Loyola (MD) on Friday, Sept. 15, before facing Brown on Sunday, Sept. 17.
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.
