No. 18/13 SMU (3-0-2, 0-0-0 AAC) at Temple (1-1-2, 0-0-0 AAC)
Temple Sports Complex - Philadelphia, Pa.
Saturday, September 18, 2021 – 6 p.m. CT
Live Stats | Watch: ESPN+
SMU Game Notes (PDF) | Temple | American (PDF)
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No. 18 SMU opens its American Athletic Conference slate on Saturday, Sept. 18 against Temple in Philadelphia, Pa. The match is slated for a 6 p.m. CT start and will be streamed on ESPN+.

SERIES HISTORY 
SMU and Temple have faced off each year since the 2013 season, including twice during both the 2017 and 2020 seasons for a total of 10 total matchups. During the spring 2020 season, the Owls earned wins in both games that the two played, with a 2-0 win in Philadelphia on March 6 and a 2-1 overtime win while playing in Dallas. The Mustangs are 3-1 when playing the Owls at the Temple Sports Complex, with the only away loss coming during the past spring season. SMU earned wins in Philadelphia in 2014, 2017 and 2019. 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 
This week marks the first of American Athletic Conference play and Temple played to a 1-1-2 record against non-conference opponents. The Owls' sole win so far this season came in a 3-1 final versus Manhattan at the Temple Sports Complex. The loss was a 2-1 final in double overtime against Villanova while the two ties were 0-0 results against then-No. 10 Seton Hall and Rutgers. Temple was scheduled to play No. 1 Georgetown, but the contest was postponed. 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 finished its non-conference slate with a 3-0 victory over UIW on Monday in Dallas for the team's first shutout win of the season. Roman Knox recorded the ultimate game-winner with a goal in the 25th minute thanks to assists from Lane Warrington and Jose Ortiz, who got the ball into the box for Knox. Ortiz scored next as he put away a corner kick from Gabriel Costa in the 53rd minute to give SMU the 2-0 lead. Costa tallied the final goal as he converted his second penalty kick of the season during the 59th minute of the match. Ortiz led the offensive efforts with eight shots, including four on goal. Harvey Castro and Papa Ndoye totaled three shots each while Cody Black, Costa, Tobin Shanks and Skage Simonsen all had two. Cole Johnson earned his first clean sheet of the 2021 campaign. The defense helped keep the Cardinals away from the goal and limited them to three shots, with none on frame. Twenty-two total Mustangs recorded playing time against UIW, including six that saw their first minutes of the season.

MUSTANGS IN THE RANKINGS
SMU checked in at No. 18 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 13 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll on Sept. 14. The Mustangs had a 2-0-2 record at the time of the week's voting. SMU leads The American in assists per game with 2.40, is tied for first in shots (84) and comes in at third for points (34), goals per game (2.20) and goals against average (0.73). Three Mustangs are tied for the second-most total assists in the AAC as Knut Ahlander, Kyran Pinho and Lane Warrington all have two. Ahlander's 0.50 assists per game ties for third in the conference and 64th in the NCAA. 

COSTA LEADS THE WAY
Senior Gabriel Costa finds himself among NCAA leaders in multiple categories as the midfielder is T-1st in total goals (6), T-1st for PKs converted (2), T-3rd in total points (13) and T-4th in game-winning goals (2). He sits atop The American in points per game (2.60) and total goals (6) while coming in at No. 2 in shots per game (3.60), goals per game (1.20) and game-winning goals (2). Costa leads the Mustangs in almost every offensive category, including goals, points, shots, shots on goal and game-winning goals.

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), TDS/CSN Team of the Week (Aug. 31)
• Cole Johnson - AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 6, Sept. 13)
• Bailey Sparks - AAC Rookie of the Week (Sept. 6)
• Brandon Terwege - AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 13)

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.

UP NEXT 
SMU hosts its first conference matchup on Friday, Sept. 24 against USF. Action at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium is slated for a 7 p.m. CT start on ESPN+.