Sunday, October 6
Dallas, Texas
7 p.m. CT
SMU
vs
[#11/9] UCF
No. 4/2 Mustangs Set For AAC Title Rematch With No. 11/9 UCF
Oct 3 | Men's Soccer
[4/2] SMU (9-0-0, 1-0-0) vs. [11/9] UCF (7-1-1, 1-0-0)
Westcott Field - Dallas, TexasÂ
Oct. 6, 2019 – 7 p.m. CT
American Digital Network | Live Stats | Gameday Central
SMU Notes (PDF) | UCF Notes (PDF) | AAC Notes (PDF)
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The No. 4/2 Mustangs are set to host the No. 11/9 UCF Knights in a rematch of last season's AAC postseason championship game on Sunday night at 7 p.m. It's the first top-10 matchup in the regular season at Westcott Field since 2006. The game will be broadcast on the American Digital Network.Â
MARQUEE MATCH
No. 4/2 SMU welcomes No. 11/9 UCF to the Hilltop for the first top-10 regular season-match at Westcott since September 8, 2006 when No. 3 SMU beat No. 10 Indiana 1-0. Sunday's match is a rematch of the 2018 AAC postseason championship game that SMU won 5-4 in PKs. The Knights and Mustangs were picked first and second, respectively, in the preseason AAC poll.Â
LAST TIME OUT
The Mustangs improved to 9-0-0 on Tuesday with a 3-0 win over Central Arkansas. Garrett McLaughlin scored his eighth goal of the season in the first half, assisted by Knut Ahlander. Wyatt Priest added his second goal of the year later on in the first half and Ahlander netted his fourth of the year in the second half. Grant Makela (3-0-0) returned in net and earned a clean sheet.
HISTORIC START
The Mustangs' 9-0-0 start matches the 2010 team also started 9-0-0.Â
Only two teams in Mustang history have started hotter:
2001 - 21-0-0Â
1979 - 14-0-0
The nine straight wins marks the best start of any AAC team in league history. SMU has won 16 of its last 18 matches, dating back to last season. The last regular season loss came at UCF (1-0) on 9/28/18.
PULSE OF THE POLLS
SMU is ranked No. 4 in the country by United Soccer Coaches (10/1). The Mustangs were ranked No. 2 by Top Drawer Soccer (9/30) and No. 4 by College Soccer News (9/30).Â
DON'T LOOK BACK
The Mustangs have played 810 minutes of soccer this season and have only trailed in four of those minutes. The four minutes came late in the game at Denver. The Mustangs equalized in the 88th minute and won in OT. The team has outscored opponents 17-1 in the first half this season and hasn't allowed a first-half goal since Sept. 2 vs HBU.Â
CONFERENCE PLAY OPENS
The Mustangs started their 2019 conference campaign on September 28 with a 5-1 win at Tulsa. SMU has won at least a share of the regular season AAC title and both postseason tournaments since 2017.Â
FAST START
The Mustangs have matched the 2010 team by starting the year 9-0-0. It's tied for the third best start in school history. SMU is one of four teams in the country with only wins on the record this season. The team's 9-0-0 start builds on its own record for the best start of an AAC team in league history. The team's best start ever was 21-0-0 in 2001. Current head coach Kevin Hudson started 19 games that season for the Mustangs. Â
BACKLINE DOMINANCE
SMU's defense has been among the best in the country this season, allowing just three goals through nine matches. SMU's starting backline has a combined 170 starts in their careers, led by Eddie Munjoma (51) and Talen Maples (47).Â
PROLIFIC OFFENSE
SMU has scored 31 goals this season, including 17 in the first half. The 31 total goals are the third most in the country behind Clemson and FIU, and second in scoring offense, averaging 3.44 goals per game. The Mustangs have shared the wealth offensively, as 10 different players have scored this year, led by Garrett McLaughlin's eight goals. The teams' 10.22 points per game are the second-most in the nation and nearly three points more than anyone else in the AAC.Â
POURING IT ON
In SMU's match vs. Valpo, six Mustangs found the back of the net. It's the first time six student-athletes have scored in one game since a 7-0 win over Central Arkansas in Oct. 2014. SMU has scored six or more goals now twice this season. In the decade prior, SMU netted six or more goals just twice.Â
2019 HONORS
Talen Maples - AAC Defensive POTW (9/10)
Garrett McLaughlin - AAC Honor Roll (9/10), AAC Offensive POTW (9/23), Senior CLASS Award Candidate (9/23)
Nicky Hernandez - AAC Honor Roll (9/10)
Brandon Terwege - TDS Starting XI (9/16)
Shane Lanson - National POTW (9/17), AAC Honor Roll (9/17), AAC GK of the week (9/23)
Gabriel Costa - AAC Offensive POTW (9/30)
COSTA IN CONTROL
Sophomore Gabriel Costa dominated Tulsa in the conference opener as he tallied six points after scoring twice and assisting on two goals. He is the country's active leader in points per game (1.96) among players with 25+ games played.
LANSON'S RUN
Sophomore GK Shane Lanson started six matches for the Mustangs and earned four clean sheets, including one vs. No. 2 Duke. He has a perfect record of 6-0 and a GAA of 0.32.Â
In his second start vs. UC Riverside, the New Orleans native clinched the victory with a penalty save in the 78th minute. Lanson was named National Player of the Week by United Soccer Coaches on Sept. 17.Â
AHLANDER ASSISTING
Knut Ahlander's seven assists are tied for the third most in the country. The midfielder has dominated on both sides of the ball forcing turnovers and spreading the wealth, recording assists to five different players. The Norway native has scored four goals this season, with all four coming in the last five matches.Â
MUNJOMA THE MAGNIFICENT
Eddie Munjoma recorded his first multi-goal game in his career vs. Saint Louis. His six goals are the second-most on the team and fifth-most in the conference. Munjoma is getting the job done in more ways than one, as his five assists are second on the team.Â
MCLAUGHLIN MAGIC
Garrett McLaughlin's 29 career goals are the most among active Mustangs and sixth-most among all active players nationally.
NCAA ACTIVE GOALS LEADERS
1. Niklas Brodacki - Central Ark. - 44
T2. Jorge Gonzalez - SIUE - 35
T2. Cal Jennings - UCF - 35
4. Daniele Proch - Duke - 30
T5. Garrett McLaughlin - SMU - 29
T5. Brian Saramago - Loyola Maryland - 29
T5. Eamon Whelan - Qunnipiac - 29Â
McLaughlin shredded the Houston Baptist defense in match two when the OKC native recorded the first hat trick of his SMU career.Â
His 88th minute equalizer at Denver on Sept. 21 pushed the game to overtime, preserving the Mustangs perfect start.
He has eight goals in 2019, good for third-most in the AAC and 10th-most in the nation.Â
KNOW YOUR FOE
The No. 11/9 Knights are 7-1-1 on the season and ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 9 in Top Drawer Soccer.Â
They shared the regular season AAC championship with SMU last season and lost to the Mustangs in the AAC championship game.Â
SERIES HISTORYÂ
The Mustangs and Knights have faced off 15 times with SMU leading the season series 7-4-4.
COMING UPÂ
The Mustangs travel to South Florida on Oct. 11 for a conference match vs. the Bulls at 6 p.m. CT.Â
Â
Westcott Field - Dallas, TexasÂ
Oct. 6, 2019 – 7 p.m. CT
American Digital Network | Live Stats | Gameday Central
SMU Notes (PDF) | UCF Notes (PDF) | AAC Notes (PDF)
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SMU Mobile App
Apple | Google Play
The No. 4/2 Mustangs are set to host the No. 11/9 UCF Knights in a rematch of last season's AAC postseason championship game on Sunday night at 7 p.m. It's the first top-10 matchup in the regular season at Westcott Field since 2006. The game will be broadcast on the American Digital Network.Â
MARQUEE MATCH
No. 4/2 SMU welcomes No. 11/9 UCF to the Hilltop for the first top-10 regular season-match at Westcott since September 8, 2006 when No. 3 SMU beat No. 10 Indiana 1-0. Sunday's match is a rematch of the 2018 AAC postseason championship game that SMU won 5-4 in PKs. The Knights and Mustangs were picked first and second, respectively, in the preseason AAC poll.Â
LAST TIME OUT
The Mustangs improved to 9-0-0 on Tuesday with a 3-0 win over Central Arkansas. Garrett McLaughlin scored his eighth goal of the season in the first half, assisted by Knut Ahlander. Wyatt Priest added his second goal of the year later on in the first half and Ahlander netted his fourth of the year in the second half. Grant Makela (3-0-0) returned in net and earned a clean sheet.
HISTORIC START
The Mustangs' 9-0-0 start matches the 2010 team also started 9-0-0.Â
Only two teams in Mustang history have started hotter:
2001 - 21-0-0Â
1979 - 14-0-0
The nine straight wins marks the best start of any AAC team in league history. SMU has won 16 of its last 18 matches, dating back to last season. The last regular season loss came at UCF (1-0) on 9/28/18.
PULSE OF THE POLLS
SMU is ranked No. 4 in the country by United Soccer Coaches (10/1). The Mustangs were ranked No. 2 by Top Drawer Soccer (9/30) and No. 4 by College Soccer News (9/30).Â
DON'T LOOK BACK
The Mustangs have played 810 minutes of soccer this season and have only trailed in four of those minutes. The four minutes came late in the game at Denver. The Mustangs equalized in the 88th minute and won in OT. The team has outscored opponents 17-1 in the first half this season and hasn't allowed a first-half goal since Sept. 2 vs HBU.Â
CONFERENCE PLAY OPENS
The Mustangs started their 2019 conference campaign on September 28 with a 5-1 win at Tulsa. SMU has won at least a share of the regular season AAC title and both postseason tournaments since 2017.Â
FAST START
The Mustangs have matched the 2010 team by starting the year 9-0-0. It's tied for the third best start in school history. SMU is one of four teams in the country with only wins on the record this season. The team's 9-0-0 start builds on its own record for the best start of an AAC team in league history. The team's best start ever was 21-0-0 in 2001. Current head coach Kevin Hudson started 19 games that season for the Mustangs. Â
BACKLINE DOMINANCE
SMU's defense has been among the best in the country this season, allowing just three goals through nine matches. SMU's starting backline has a combined 170 starts in their careers, led by Eddie Munjoma (51) and Talen Maples (47).Â
PROLIFIC OFFENSE
SMU has scored 31 goals this season, including 17 in the first half. The 31 total goals are the third most in the country behind Clemson and FIU, and second in scoring offense, averaging 3.44 goals per game. The Mustangs have shared the wealth offensively, as 10 different players have scored this year, led by Garrett McLaughlin's eight goals. The teams' 10.22 points per game are the second-most in the nation and nearly three points more than anyone else in the AAC.Â
POURING IT ON
In SMU's match vs. Valpo, six Mustangs found the back of the net. It's the first time six student-athletes have scored in one game since a 7-0 win over Central Arkansas in Oct. 2014. SMU has scored six or more goals now twice this season. In the decade prior, SMU netted six or more goals just twice.Â
2019 HONORS
Talen Maples - AAC Defensive POTW (9/10)
Garrett McLaughlin - AAC Honor Roll (9/10), AAC Offensive POTW (9/23), Senior CLASS Award Candidate (9/23)
Nicky Hernandez - AAC Honor Roll (9/10)
Brandon Terwege - TDS Starting XI (9/16)
Shane Lanson - National POTW (9/17), AAC Honor Roll (9/17), AAC GK of the week (9/23)
Gabriel Costa - AAC Offensive POTW (9/30)
COSTA IN CONTROL
Sophomore Gabriel Costa dominated Tulsa in the conference opener as he tallied six points after scoring twice and assisting on two goals. He is the country's active leader in points per game (1.96) among players with 25+ games played.
LANSON'S RUN
Sophomore GK Shane Lanson started six matches for the Mustangs and earned four clean sheets, including one vs. No. 2 Duke. He has a perfect record of 6-0 and a GAA of 0.32.Â
In his second start vs. UC Riverside, the New Orleans native clinched the victory with a penalty save in the 78th minute. Lanson was named National Player of the Week by United Soccer Coaches on Sept. 17.Â
AHLANDER ASSISTING
Knut Ahlander's seven assists are tied for the third most in the country. The midfielder has dominated on both sides of the ball forcing turnovers and spreading the wealth, recording assists to five different players. The Norway native has scored four goals this season, with all four coming in the last five matches.Â
MUNJOMA THE MAGNIFICENT
Eddie Munjoma recorded his first multi-goal game in his career vs. Saint Louis. His six goals are the second-most on the team and fifth-most in the conference. Munjoma is getting the job done in more ways than one, as his five assists are second on the team.Â
MCLAUGHLIN MAGIC
Garrett McLaughlin's 29 career goals are the most among active Mustangs and sixth-most among all active players nationally.
NCAA ACTIVE GOALS LEADERS
1. Niklas Brodacki - Central Ark. - 44
T2. Jorge Gonzalez - SIUE - 35
T2. Cal Jennings - UCF - 35
4. Daniele Proch - Duke - 30
T5. Garrett McLaughlin - SMU - 29
T5. Brian Saramago - Loyola Maryland - 29
T5. Eamon Whelan - Qunnipiac - 29Â
McLaughlin shredded the Houston Baptist defense in match two when the OKC native recorded the first hat trick of his SMU career.Â
His 88th minute equalizer at Denver on Sept. 21 pushed the game to overtime, preserving the Mustangs perfect start.
He has eight goals in 2019, good for third-most in the AAC and 10th-most in the nation.Â
KNOW YOUR FOE
The No. 11/9 Knights are 7-1-1 on the season and ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 9 in Top Drawer Soccer.Â
They shared the regular season AAC championship with SMU last season and lost to the Mustangs in the AAC championship game.Â
SERIES HISTORYÂ
The Mustangs and Knights have faced off 15 times with SMU leading the season series 7-4-4.
COMING UPÂ
The Mustangs travel to South Florida on Oct. 11 for a conference match vs. the Bulls at 6 p.m. CT.Â
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Players Mentioned
Midfielder
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Forward/Midfielder
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Goalkeeper
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Goalkeeper
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Defender
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Forward
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Defender
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Midfielder/Forward
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D
/ Men's SoccerSunday, September 20
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Friday, September 18
