By Alex Riley - Special Contributor to SMUMustangs.com

For SMU women's soccer, the focus is on internal expectations. Whatever the outside world is saying, is irrelevant.
 
And make no mistake, the outside world is talking.
 
With a large portion of their offense returning to the pitch, the Mustangs have been tabbed to finish fourth in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll. Despite not receiving a first-place vote in those rankings, the program did nab three points in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, making SMU one of three AAC programs to receive a mention in the national poll.
 
No pressure, right?  
 
"I think there's always pressure coming from different places, but we're ready to show people what we have. I think we're good under pressure," redshirt freshman Brigitta Pulins said.  
 
The Mustangs will certainly get a shot to show exactly where they stand. The non-conference schedule features five participants from the 2018 NCAA Women's Tournament. That includes the August 22 season-opening match with Northwestern. Additionally, the AAC produced a pair of NCAA qualifiers in South Florida and Memphis last season. The Mustangs are eager to join them on college soccer's biggest stage, and they'll certainly have the firepower to do so.
 
Of the team's 36 goals scored and 28 assists last year, 30 goals and 17 assists were recorded by returning players, including leading scorer and preseason All-AAC selection Allie Thornton (10 goals in 2018). SMU also brought in a six-player signing class from across North America. The program has produced two All-Freshman AAC selections each of the last three years.
 
"I think we have the potential this year. I've every excited for the season to start," sophomore Celiana Torres said. She was a selection to the All-AAC Rookie team last year. "We have new incoming freshmen and I'm very excited for them to experience what it takes to be part of the SMU women's soccer team. But overall I feel very confident with our team."
 
Armed with a strong schedule and deep roster, SMU is looking to take the program to the next level. After ending a 10-year NCAA drought in 2016, coach Chris Petrucelli has guided the program to back-to-back 10-win campaigns, but the Mustangs have come up just short of reaching the postseason the last two years.
 
During the offseason, the focus was on elevating the already strong chemistry between the program's returning players and newcomers. They set expectations for themselves. Reach those and they'll prove the outside world right.
 
"I think it's mainly about just looking forward, not at the past, and just focusing on making sure this year is the year that you do everything you have to do make it the NCAA Tournament," freshman Wayny Balata said.