No. 12/6 SMU (5-1-2, 2-1-0 AAC) vs. Temple (1-4-2, 0-3-0 AAC)
Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium - Dallas, Texas
Sunday, October 3, 2021 – 7 p.m. CT
Live Stats | Watch: ESPN+
SMU Game Notes (PDF) | Temple | American (PDF)
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No. 12 SMU welcomes Temple for a matchup on Sunday, Oct. 3 at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium. The weekend action is set for a 7 p.m. start on ESPN+.

SERIES HISTORY 
SMU and Temple have faced off each year since the 2013 season, including once already during this year's fall slate for a total of 11 matchups. During the spring 2020 season, the Owls earned wins in both games that the two played before SMU took this season's first win over Temple on Sept. 18 in Philadelphia. The Mustangs are 3-2-1 when playing the Owls at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium, with the second overall loss in Dallas coming on March 6 as Temple claimed a 2-1 overtime win. While the two have played to overtime four times, only one matchup resulted in a tie as the contest finished 1-1 in Dallas on Oct. 9, 2013.

KNOW THE FOE 
Temple began the season with a 1-1-2 record against non-conference opponents and are still looking for their first AAC win. The Owls' sole win so far this season came in a 3-1 final versus Manhattan at the Temple Sports Complex. Losses have come against Villanova and conference foes SMU, UCF and Memphis while the two ties were 0-0 results against Seton Hall and Rutgers. Temple holds a 0-1-2 record when playing on the road at the halfway point of the season. Eoin Gawronski was named the unanimous AAC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. He was also named to the Preseason All- Conference team along with midfielder Jalen Campbell. The Owls were picked to finish fifth in the AAC in the Preseason Coaches' Poll.

LAST TIME OUT
SMU dropped its first contest of the season 2-1 on Wednesday as No. 7 Tulsa scored the game-winner with seven second left in the second overtime period. The contest marked the third double overtime game of the season for the Mustangs. Papa Ndoye scored SMU's lone goal off a header in the 16th minute thanks to helpers from Gabriel Costa and Harvey Castro.
The Golden Hurricane's Alex Meinhard responded in the 35th minute to tie the contest a 1-1, which held through regulation and the first overtime period. Tulsa's game-winner came off a rebound during the 110th. Cole Johnson finished with three saves, including one that kept the contest tied during the first 10 minutes of overtime. 

MUSTANGS IN THE RANKINGS
SMU checked in at No. 12 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 6 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll on September 27. SMU leads The American in shots per game with 15.62 (19th NCAA) and assists per game (2.62, 10th NCAA), is second in goals against average (0.81, 31st NCAA) and comes in at third in points per game (7.12, 16th NCAA) in goals per game (2.25, 24th NCAA).

COSTA LEADS THE WAY
Senior Gabriel Costa finds himself among the nation's leaders in points per game (6th, 2.25), assists per game (6th, 0.75) and goals per game (11th, 0.75). Costa sits at No. 2 in the American Athletic Conference in total points with 18 and is tied for second in total assists with six.

NOT IN JOHNSON'S NET
Prior to Wednesday's loss, Cole Johnson had allowed just one goal over 323 minutes in net after a shutout win over USF. The sophomore's goals against average of 0.81 (7 GA, 780 MIN) is the league's third-best number behind Temple's Eoin Gawronski and Tulsa's Alex Lopez. The total sits at No. 35 in the NCAA. 

2021 HONORS

• Kyran Chambron Pinho - AAC Rookie of the Week (Aug. 30), AAC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 6)
• Gabriel Costa - AAC Offensive Player of the Week (Aug. 30), AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 6, Sept. 20), TDS National Player of the Week (Sept. 21), TDS/CSN Team of the Week (Aug. 31)
• Cole Johnson - AAC Goalkeeper of the Week (Sept. 27), AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 6, Sept. 13)
• Papa Ndoye - AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 20)
• Bailey Sparks - AAC Rookie of the Week (Sept. 6)
• Brandon Terwege - AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 13, Sept. 27)
• Lane Warrington - AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 27)

PRESEASON HONORS
Four Mustangs were named to the Preseason All-AAC Team as Knut Ahlander and Skage Simonsen were unanimous selections while Gabriel Costa and Papa Ndoye joined their teammates as the other two selections. SMU's four All-Conference players were the most selections by any school. SMU garnered two first-place votes in the 2021 AAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, where they came in at second, just one point behind No. 1 UCF. Two freshmen were recognized by Top Drawer Soccer as Bailey Sparks was named a Pro Academy Signee to Watch and JP Jordan was named a Non-Pro Academy Impact Freshman.

NEW ADDITIONS
The Mustangs have added 11 freshmen and one transfer to the 2021 roster for a total of 12 new faces on the Hilltop. SMU's 2021 recruiting class entered the season ranked No. 10 by Top Drawer Soccer. Quentin van der Lee sits as the lone transfer addition, coming to the Hilltop as a graduate student from Trinity University. Freshmen Bailey Sparks and JP Jordan were recognized by Top Drawer Soccer heading into the season as freshmen to watch. The freshmen made their way to Dallas from Alabama, California, Colorado, Germany and Denmark as well as Houston and Austin. Three hail from the metroplex as they chose to embrace Dallas' college.

SENIOR STANGS
SMU's 2021 roster boasts 10 seniors and two graduate students to total 14 upperclassmen. This year's senior class includes Knut Ahlander, Gabriel Costa, Thomas Haney, Timo Hummrich, Roman Knox, Shane Lanson, Wyatt Priest, Tobin Shanks, Skage Simonsen and Lane Warrington. Joining van der Lee as a graduate student, Brandon Terwege is back on the Hilltop for another season. The defender was selected by Houston Dynamo FC in the third round of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft with the 57th overall pick. In the spring, he helped SMU to four shutouts and started in nine games, playing all 90 minutes in each. Six of last season's primary starters are part of this year's senior class.

ABOUT ATTENDANCE AT WASHBURNE
Fans will be welcome at Washburne Soccer & Track Stadium and bleachers will be provided on the east side of the track. The fan entrance will be at the southeast corner near Doak Walker Plaza. Food trucks and bathrooms will be provided at Ford Stadium.

UP NEXT 
The Mustangs are back on the road on Saturday, Oct. 9 to play Memphis, with action starting at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.