Saturday, November 16
Orlando, FL
6 P.M. CT
SMU
at
UCF
Mustangs To Play For Third Straight AAC Title
Nov 15 | Men's Soccer
[10/11] SMU (15-1-1, 5-1-1) vs. [5/3] UCF (14-1-2, 6-0-1)
AAC Championship Final
UCF Soccer and Track Complex / Orlando, Fla.
Nov. 16, 2019 – 6 p.m. CT
Watch on ESPN 3 | Live Stats | SMU Notes (PDF)
Season Stats
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TROPHY HUNTING
The Mustangs are looking to be the first team in AAC to win three straight conference championships on Saturday night. SMU defeated 3-seeded USF on Wednesday 2-1 in 2OT to clinch a spot in the final, where they'll play 1-seed UCF for the third year in a row.
LAST TIME OUT
The Mustangs beat USF in the AAC semifinal with a 2-1 victory in 2OT. With the win, SMU earned its 15th win of the season, matching the most since 2006. Nicky Hernandez started the SMU scoring, putting the Mustangs up 1-0 early. Brandon Terwege's 106th minute goal was the game-winner.
A STRONG REGULAR SEASON
The Mustangs have had an historic season, scoring the most goals of any SMU team since 2006. SMU has essentially rewritten the conference's record book this year, setting new highs in goals, points, assists, individual goals and individual points. SMU climbed as high as No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches poll earlier in the season and won six games vs. teams that made the 2018 NCAA tourney.Â
PULSE OF THE POLLS
The NCAA soccer selection committee released its Top 16 teams on Nov. 1, ranking the Mustangs No. 8 in the country. SMU is ranked No. 11 in the country by United Soccer Coaches (11/5). SMU claimed the No. 10 spot in the most recent RPI. The Mustangs were ranked No. 11 by Top Drawer Soccer (11/4) and No. 6 by College Soccer News (11/4). The Mustangs earned a No. 3 ranking earlier in the season which is tied for the highest ranking of any AAC team in history.Â
SMU HISTORY IN THE AAC TOURNEY
SMU is 5-2-3 at the AAC Championship, winning the tournament the past two seasons. The Mustangs and Knights have faced three times in the tournament, with SMU winning all three matches, including two finals. SMU has placed 13 players on the All-Tournament team, including a combined 11 the past two years.Â
LAST TIME VS. THE KNIGHTS
SMU and UCF faced each other in Dallas earlier this season, playing to a 3-3 draw.Â
HOME PITCH ADVANTAGE
SMU fans have poured into Westcott Field this season, averaging 1,663 people at each match, good for 13th most in the country. SMU's accumulated attendance of 16,333 is 10th-best in the nation. The Ponies led the conference in attendance, and were one of two schools in the AAC to average over 1,000 fans at each match. The Mustangs finished their regular season with a 8-1-1 home record. It's the sixth time since 2005 to reach the 8-win mark.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Mustangs are a perfect 7-0-0 on the road this season. They've outscored opponents 23-5 when away from Westcott including a 5-1 win at Tulsa and a 7-1 victory in Cincinnati.Â
DOUBLE-DIGIT WINS
With SMU's 3-0 win at USF on Oct. 11 the Mustangs picked up their 10th win of the season, marking the 16th time since 2000 that SMU has won 10+ games in a season. October 11 is the fastest the team has reached the 10-win mark since 2010 when it was hit on Oct. 6.Â
PLAYING THE FULL FIELD
Only twice in league history has the same team led the conference in goals scored and goals allowed, in 2014 and 2017. Both times, the team was SMU. In 2019, the Mustangs currently lead the league in goals (57) and goals allowed (13).Â
CONQUERING CONFERENCE PLAY
The Mustangs finished the regular season at 5-1-1 in conference play and outscoring opponents 24-10, scoring 3+ goals in five matches. SMU is 14-1-1 in its last 16 conference matches dating back to last season.Â
FAST START
The Mustangs started their season with an 11-game undefeated streak, the third best start in school history. With its 11-game undefeated streak to start the season, SMU set the AAC record for the best start of any team in league history. The team's best start ever was 21-0 in 2001. Current head coach Kevin Hudson started 19 games that year for the Mustangs. Â
FEARSOME FOURSOME
SMU has four players with 20+ points this season. No other team in the AAC has more than one.Â
Garrett McLaughlin - 35 points (2nd)
Eddie Munjoma - 28 points (3rd)
Knut Ahlander - 25 points (4th)
Gabriel Costa - 24 points (6th)
SENIOR CLASS: BY THE NUMBERS
The 2019 senior class has been one of the best in school history. They've combined for 48 wins and counting, four conference championships (2 regular, 2 postseason) and are responsible for the best offensive season at SMU since 2001.Â
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
The Mustangs currently are conference leaders in six categories as a team and eight as individuals...
TEAM: Points (169), Goals (57), Assists (55), Goals Allowed (13), GAA (0.74), Shutouts (9)
IND: Assists (Ahlander, 11), Assists/game (Costa, 0.77), Game-winning goals (McLaughlin, 6), GAA (Lanson, .32), Save % (Lanson, .889), Saves/game (Makela, 4.30), Clean sheets (Makela, 5), Shutouts/game (Makela and Lanson, .50)
BACKLINE DOMINANCE
SMU's defense has been among the best in the country this season, allowing just 12 goals in the regular season. SMU's starting backline has a combined 224 starts in their careers, led by Eddie Munjoma (60). SMU's nine shutouts are the 8th most in the country and four more than anyone else in the conference. The Mustangs lead the conference in GAA at 0.74, and are the only school under 1.00.
PROLIFIC OFFENSE
SMU's 57 goals are the second most in the country. The 57 goals are tied for the most of any SMU team since 2006. The Mustangs have shared the wealth offensively, as 13 different players have scored this year. Four players have 6+ goals, and two with 10+. SMU is one of four schools nationally with two 10+ goal scorers. SMU ranks third nationally in shots per game (18.13) and SOG/game (8.38). The teams' 10.31 points/game are the second most in the nation. SMU's 169 points are a conference record and 44 more than anyone else in the conference. It's the most points the Mustangs have scored since 2006 (171), and third most since the turn of the century.Â
KNOW YOUR FOE
The No. 5/3 Knights are the 1-seeded host in this year's AAC Championship. They're 14-1-2 this season and have lost the last two AAC finals to SMU.
SERIES HISTORYÂ
The Mustangs and Knights have played 16 times, with SMU leading the series 7-4-5. They played to a 3-3 draw earlier in the season.
COMING UPÂ
The Mustangs find out their NCAA Tournament fate on Monday at 12:00 p.m. CT when the NCAA releases its 2019 NCAA soccer bracket.Â
AAC Championship Final
UCF Soccer and Track Complex / Orlando, Fla.
Nov. 16, 2019 – 6 p.m. CT
Watch on ESPN 3 | Live Stats | SMU Notes (PDF)
Season Stats
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SMU Mobile App
Apple | Google Play
TROPHY HUNTING
The Mustangs are looking to be the first team in AAC to win three straight conference championships on Saturday night. SMU defeated 3-seeded USF on Wednesday 2-1 in 2OT to clinch a spot in the final, where they'll play 1-seed UCF for the third year in a row.
LAST TIME OUT
The Mustangs beat USF in the AAC semifinal with a 2-1 victory in 2OT. With the win, SMU earned its 15th win of the season, matching the most since 2006. Nicky Hernandez started the SMU scoring, putting the Mustangs up 1-0 early. Brandon Terwege's 106th minute goal was the game-winner.
A STRONG REGULAR SEASON
The Mustangs have had an historic season, scoring the most goals of any SMU team since 2006. SMU has essentially rewritten the conference's record book this year, setting new highs in goals, points, assists, individual goals and individual points. SMU climbed as high as No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches poll earlier in the season and won six games vs. teams that made the 2018 NCAA tourney.Â
PULSE OF THE POLLS
The NCAA soccer selection committee released its Top 16 teams on Nov. 1, ranking the Mustangs No. 8 in the country. SMU is ranked No. 11 in the country by United Soccer Coaches (11/5). SMU claimed the No. 10 spot in the most recent RPI. The Mustangs were ranked No. 11 by Top Drawer Soccer (11/4) and No. 6 by College Soccer News (11/4). The Mustangs earned a No. 3 ranking earlier in the season which is tied for the highest ranking of any AAC team in history.Â
SMU HISTORY IN THE AAC TOURNEY
SMU is 5-2-3 at the AAC Championship, winning the tournament the past two seasons. The Mustangs and Knights have faced three times in the tournament, with SMU winning all three matches, including two finals. SMU has placed 13 players on the All-Tournament team, including a combined 11 the past two years.Â
LAST TIME VS. THE KNIGHTS
SMU and UCF faced each other in Dallas earlier this season, playing to a 3-3 draw.Â
HOME PITCH ADVANTAGE
SMU fans have poured into Westcott Field this season, averaging 1,663 people at each match, good for 13th most in the country. SMU's accumulated attendance of 16,333 is 10th-best in the nation. The Ponies led the conference in attendance, and were one of two schools in the AAC to average over 1,000 fans at each match. The Mustangs finished their regular season with a 8-1-1 home record. It's the sixth time since 2005 to reach the 8-win mark.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Mustangs are a perfect 7-0-0 on the road this season. They've outscored opponents 23-5 when away from Westcott including a 5-1 win at Tulsa and a 7-1 victory in Cincinnati.Â
DOUBLE-DIGIT WINS
With SMU's 3-0 win at USF on Oct. 11 the Mustangs picked up their 10th win of the season, marking the 16th time since 2000 that SMU has won 10+ games in a season. October 11 is the fastest the team has reached the 10-win mark since 2010 when it was hit on Oct. 6.Â
PLAYING THE FULL FIELD
Only twice in league history has the same team led the conference in goals scored and goals allowed, in 2014 and 2017. Both times, the team was SMU. In 2019, the Mustangs currently lead the league in goals (57) and goals allowed (13).Â
CONQUERING CONFERENCE PLAY
The Mustangs finished the regular season at 5-1-1 in conference play and outscoring opponents 24-10, scoring 3+ goals in five matches. SMU is 14-1-1 in its last 16 conference matches dating back to last season.Â
FAST START
The Mustangs started their season with an 11-game undefeated streak, the third best start in school history. With its 11-game undefeated streak to start the season, SMU set the AAC record for the best start of any team in league history. The team's best start ever was 21-0 in 2001. Current head coach Kevin Hudson started 19 games that year for the Mustangs. Â
FEARSOME FOURSOME
SMU has four players with 20+ points this season. No other team in the AAC has more than one.Â
Garrett McLaughlin - 35 points (2nd)
Eddie Munjoma - 28 points (3rd)
Knut Ahlander - 25 points (4th)
Gabriel Costa - 24 points (6th)
SENIOR CLASS: BY THE NUMBERS
The 2019 senior class has been one of the best in school history. They've combined for 48 wins and counting, four conference championships (2 regular, 2 postseason) and are responsible for the best offensive season at SMU since 2001.Â
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
The Mustangs currently are conference leaders in six categories as a team and eight as individuals...
TEAM: Points (169), Goals (57), Assists (55), Goals Allowed (13), GAA (0.74), Shutouts (9)
IND: Assists (Ahlander, 11), Assists/game (Costa, 0.77), Game-winning goals (McLaughlin, 6), GAA (Lanson, .32), Save % (Lanson, .889), Saves/game (Makela, 4.30), Clean sheets (Makela, 5), Shutouts/game (Makela and Lanson, .50)
BACKLINE DOMINANCE
SMU's defense has been among the best in the country this season, allowing just 12 goals in the regular season. SMU's starting backline has a combined 224 starts in their careers, led by Eddie Munjoma (60). SMU's nine shutouts are the 8th most in the country and four more than anyone else in the conference. The Mustangs lead the conference in GAA at 0.74, and are the only school under 1.00.
PROLIFIC OFFENSE
SMU's 57 goals are the second most in the country. The 57 goals are tied for the most of any SMU team since 2006. The Mustangs have shared the wealth offensively, as 13 different players have scored this year. Four players have 6+ goals, and two with 10+. SMU is one of four schools nationally with two 10+ goal scorers. SMU ranks third nationally in shots per game (18.13) and SOG/game (8.38). The teams' 10.31 points/game are the second most in the nation. SMU's 169 points are a conference record and 44 more than anyone else in the conference. It's the most points the Mustangs have scored since 2006 (171), and third most since the turn of the century.Â
KNOW YOUR FOE
The No. 5/3 Knights are the 1-seeded host in this year's AAC Championship. They're 14-1-2 this season and have lost the last two AAC finals to SMU.
SERIES HISTORYÂ
The Mustangs and Knights have played 16 times, with SMU leading the series 7-4-5. They played to a 3-3 draw earlier in the season.
COMING UPÂ
The Mustangs find out their NCAA Tournament fate on Monday at 12:00 p.m. CT when the NCAA releases its 2019 NCAA soccer bracket.Â
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
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/ Men's Soccer
Forward/Midfielder
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Forward
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Defender
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