No. 10/8 SMU (6-1-2, 3-1-0 AAC) at Memphis (3-6-1, 2-2-0 AAC)
Track and Soccer Complex - Memphis, Tenn.
Saturday, October 9, 2021 – 7 p.m. CT
Live Stats | Watch: ESPN+
SMU Game Notes (PDF) | Memphis | American (PDF)
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The No. 10 Mustangs are back on the road as they face the Memphis Tigers on Saturday at Memphis' Track and Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

SERIES HISTORY 
SMU and Memphis have faced off each year since the 2005 season and played twice before then, in both 1982 and 2001. During the spring 2020 season, the Mustangs earned wins in both games that they played against the Tigers, including a 2-0 in Memphis and a 5-0 victory in Dallas. The Mustangs are 5-3 when playing against the Tigers at Memphis' Track and Soccer Complex, with the latest win being in February and latest loss being on October 23 during the 2013 season. The two have never played to a draw, despite having played to single overtime twice and double overtime twice.

KNOW THE FOE 
Memphis began the season with a 1-4-1 record against non-conference opponents and hold a 2-2-0 record in conference play thus far. The Tigers have earned wins over UAB, Temple and UCF. Conference losses have come against UCF in the first matchup between the two and as well as Tulsa. SMU and Memphis shared a non-conference opponent in Saint Louis. The Mustangs played to a 1-1 tie against the Bilikens while the Tigers fell 3-0. Memphis boasts 11 upperclassmen and 19 underclassmen, including eight freshmen, on its fall roster. The Tigers were picked to finish last in the American Athletic Conference's Preseason Coaches Poll.

LAST TIME OUT
SMU defeated Temple for the second time this season, this time 1-0, to win the season series over the Owls. The contest was scoreless until the 67th minute when Gabriel Costa beat out Temple's defenders thanks to assists from Skage Simonsen and Brandon Terwege to score what would be the game-winner. SMU outshot Temple 15-5, including a 7-1 advantage on goal. Costa and Simonsen both tallied three shots while Kyran Chambron Pinho, Bailey Sparks and Mads Westergren each recorded two. Cole Johnson earned his league-leading third clean sheet of the season with one save that kept the Owls off the board. 

MUSTANGS IN THE RANKINGS
SMU finds itself in this week's top 10 as they checked in at No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 8 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll on October 5.  SMU leads The American in shots per game with 15.56 (21st NCAA) and assists per game (2.44, 11th NCAA), is second in goals against average (0.72, 27th NCAA) and comes in at third in points per game (6.67, 23rd NCAA) in goals per game (2.11, 32nd NCAA).

COSTA LEADS THE WAY
Senior Gabriel Costa finds himself among the nation's leaders in points per game (6th, 2.22), assists per game (10th, 0.67) and goals per game (10th, 0.78). Costa lead the American Athletic Conference in total points with 20 and is second in total assists with six.

NOT IN JOHNSON'S NET
Earlier this season, Cole Johnson totaled 323 minutes in net that saw just one goal after a shutout against UIW, one goal allowed versus Temple then a shutout win over USF. The sophomore's goals against average of 0.72 (7 GA, 870 MIN) is the league's third-best number behind Temple's Eoin Gawronski and Tulsa's Alex Lopez. The total sits at No. 27 in the NCAA. 

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)
• Brandon Terwege - AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 13, Sept. 27)
• Lane Warrington - AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 27)

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.

UP NEXT 
SMU faces preseason conference favorite UCF at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.