RV SMU (6-3-2, 3-3-0 AAC) at USF (4-6-1, 2-4-0 AAC)
Corbett Stadium - Tampa, Fla.
Friday, October 22, 2021 – 6 p.m. CT
Live Stats | Watch: ESPN+
SMU Game Notes (PDF) | USF | American (PDF)
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RV SMU is back on the road as they face the USF Bulls at Corbett Stadium in Tampa, Fla. on Friday night. The match is set for a 6 p.m. CT start and will be shown on ESPN+.

SERIES HISTORY 
SMU and USF have played to a 6-4-4 record over 14 total matchups between the two teams as they have faced off every season since 2012 after meeting in both 2004 and 2005. The Mustangs are 2-2-2 when playing against the Bulls at Corbett Stadium. Earlier this season, SMU defeated USF by a final score of 2-0 in Dallas as Jose Ortiz and Lane Warrington both scored goals. During the spring 2020 season, the Mustangs earned wins in both contests against the Bulls. The season's first was a 7-0 win in Tampa before SMU earned a 3-2 win in Dallas. The two teams played to overtime during six consecutive seasons from 2014 to 2019. The other overtime match was in 2005, when SMU earned a double overtime win.

KNOW THE FOE 
USF holds a 4-6-1 record on the season and 2-4-0 conference record, which sits as the fifth-best in The American. The Bulls have earned conference wins over Temple and Memphis, which have come during their latest two matchups. Losses against conference foes have been against Tulsa twice, UCF once and SMU once. USF played a five-game non-conference slate, earning wins against Jacksonville and Stetson, losses to UNCW and then-No. 4 Clemson and a draw against FGCU. Bulls defender Sal Mazzaferro was named a unanimous AAC Preseason All-Conference selection while USF was picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches' poll.

LAST TIME OUT
The Mustangs fell for just the third time this season and first at home as they were defeated by the Knights 2-1 last Saturday. SMU struck first as defender Brandon Terwege scored in the 26th minute after putting a rebounded ball into the back of the net. Knut Ahlander took the corner kick, which found Thomas Haney before Terwege, earning them both an assist. UCF tied the match at 1-1 in the 59th minute then took a 2-1 advantage in the 70th, which held for the final 20 minutes. Mustang goalkeeper Cole Johnson tallied 10 solo saves as he faced 19 shots, including 14 on goal. The team helped save two to help keep SMU in the contest. 

MUSTANGS IN THE RANKINGS
SMU is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll on October 19 after falling for the third time this season.  SMU is second in The American in shots per game with 14.73 (35th NCAA), assists per game (2.27, 21st NCAA), goals against average (1.02, 52nd NCAA) and comes in at third in points per game (6.27, 29th NCAA) and in goals per game (2.00, 34th NCAA). Senior Gabriel Costa finds himself among the nation's leaders in points per game (12th, 1.82), assists per game (24th, 0.55) and goals per game (27th, 0.64). In the NCAA's second set of RPI rankings, SMU is the AAC's third highest-ranked team at 61, behind No. 6 Tulsa and No. 38 UCF.

NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY
SMU keeper Cole Johnson totaled a career-high 10 saves in last week's loss to UCF while the team added two for a total of 12. Johnson's double-digit saves was the highest total for the Mustangs since Oct. 6, 2019 when Grant Makela saved 10 versus then-No. 11 UCF in Dallas. The sophomore brought his season total to 28 with the performance, which is tied with Tulsa's Alex Lopez for the second-most in the AAC behind first place Colin Welsh from Memphis, who has 38.

TOP TALENT ON THE HILLTOP
Four Mustang freshmen were named to Top Drawer Soccer's Midseason Men's Freshmen Top 100. Mads Westergren led the way for SMU, coming in at No. 6 and was followed by No. 9 JP Jordan, No. 43 Bailey Sparks and No. 63 Kyran Chambron Pinho. SMU led the conference with four selections and is tied for the most selections on the list across the NCAA with just two other programs: Akron and UCLA. Eight schools follow with three selections apiece. In the Midseason Men's National Top 100, three SMU upperclassmen were recognized as the Mustangs were one of 12 programs with three or more selections. Senior Gabriel Costa is ranked eighth while senior Knut Ahlander came in at No. 29 and junior Papa Ndoye is No. 56.

2021 HONORS

• Kyran Chambron Pinho - AAC Rookie of the Week (Aug. 30, Oct. 4), 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, Oct. 4), 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, Oct. 11)
• Brandon Terwege - AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 13, Sept. 27, Oct. 18)
• 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 earned two first-place votes in the 2021 AAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, where they came in second, just one point behind 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, Quentin van der Lee, 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. 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 
SMU is back in Dallas on Wednesday, Oct. 27 as the team hosts Tulsa at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.