SMU Takes Road Warrior Mentality Into Elite 8 Match At UVA
Dec 5 | Men's Soccer
By Alex Riley
Special contributor to SMUMustangs.com
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – On the road, being alone is not an option.
For SMU men's soccer players, that's the simple, yet effective, secret to trips away from home. Teammates try to spend as little time cooped up in hotel rooms by themselves as possible. There's already a standing bond between players. Time spent away from campus is viewed as a chance to strengthen it.
"We're watching movies, we're playing video games together, we're studying together. It's just all about building chemistry when you're not on the field. Trips obviously present a great opportunity to do that," sophomore defender Thomas Haney said.
Clearly, it's a strategy that has worked.
Going into Friday's 6 p.m. CT NCAA Elite Eight showdown with top-seeded Virginia (19-1-1), the Mustangs (18-1-1) have an unblemished 8-0 record away from Westcott Field this season, with six true road and two neutral site victories already on their résumé. The eight wins away from Dallas are the most the program has recorded since notching nine (five road and four neutral) during the 2011 season. Â
To keep its spotless record away from home and earn the program's first College Cup appearance since 2005, SMU will have to rely on its routine. The pomp and circumstance of the NCAA postseason can make things feel a bit different, but the Mustangs have done their best to tune out exterior noise and focus within. For a team that has made the tournament in three straight years, they're ready for the challenge ahead.Â
Yes, the current moment feels important, but so did a trip to then second-ranked Duke back in September or the American Athletic Conference Tournament finale against Central Florida in Orlando. Those are some of experiences SMU is drawing on going into Friday's contest.
"Obviously it's a big game. A big moment -Â going into the Elite Eight, facing the No. 1 seed, but you kind of have to treat it like every other game," junior midfielder Noah Hilt said. "We've played quality teams before and we trust what we do and we're going to have to approach it like any other game. Obviously be prepared, know the opponent, but you've got to go into it confident, believing in yourself and trusting your guys to do what you do every week."
Belief in each other has been the season-long mantra, both at home and on the road. That won't change when the whistle blows Friday evening.
"We're treating it like any other trip," Haney said. "Maybe a little bit more focused, but still trying to spend the maximum amount of time we can with each other."
SMU players recognize the elevated stakes, but refuse to let the surrounding environment dictate how they approach the competition.
Their plan? Stick together and play for one another. It's a tactic that has worked well for the Mustangs so far this season, and on Friday night they'll get an opportunity to write another chapter in their story.Â
