No. 13/7 SMU (4-0-2, 1-0-0 AAC) vs. USF (2-3-1, 0-1-0 AAC)
Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium - Dallas, Texas
Friday, September 24, 2021 – 7 p.m. CT
Live Stats | Watch: ESPN+
SMU Game Notes (PDF) | USF | American (PDF)
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SMU Mobile App
Apple | Google Play

No. 13 SMU hosts its first conference match of the season at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium against the USF Bulls on Friday at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

SERIES HISTORY 
SMU and USF have played to a 5-4-4 record over 13 total matchups between the two teams as they have faced off every season since 2012 after meeting in both 2004 and 2005. 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 Mustangs are 2-1-2 when playing against the Bulls at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium. 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 has started the season with a 2-3-1 record, which sits as the fourth-best in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls kicked off conference play last Saturday with a 5-2 loss to then-No. 9 Tulsa while playing in Tampa. 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. The week of Sept. 13, freshman Andres Freire was named the AAC Rookie of the Week after scoring two goals against Stetson.

LAST TIME OUT
SMU opened conference play with a 4-1 win at Temple last Saturday. Papa Ndoye opened the night's scoring in the 21st minute and put a second into the back of the net in the 89th for the night's final score. Harvey Castro scored in the 26th minute as he chipped the ball past the Temple keeper to give SMU a 2-0 lead heading into the break. After the Owls tallied their goal in the 60th minute, Jose Ortiz put the third Mustang goal in the bottom center of the goal in the 81st, marking his second goal of the week. Gabriel Costa assisted on all four goals, which is just the third time in program history that a Mustang has recorded four assists during one match. Cole Johnson finished with two saves as SMU held Temple to eight shots compared to 15 from the Mustangs.

MUSTANGS IN THE RANKINGS
SMU checked in at No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 7 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll on Sept. 21. SMU leads The American in shots per game with 16.50 (16th NCAA), is tied for first in assists per game (2.67, 7th NCAA), second in goals against average (0.78) and comes in at third for points per game (7.67, 9th NCAA) and goals per game (2.50, 12th NCAA). Three Mustangs are tied for the most total assists in the AAC with 16 as Gabriel Costa has five and 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 the nation's leader in points per game with 2.83. The midfielder is also T-2nd for assists per game (0.83), T-2nd for PKs converted (2), T-3rd in total points (13), T-4th for goals per game (1.00) He sits atop The American in points per game and shares the lead for game-winning goals (2) while coming in at No. 2 in assists per game (0.83), goals per game (1.00), shots per game (3.33) and game-winning goals (2). Costa leads the Mustangs in every offensive category, including goals, assists, 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, Sept. 20), TDS National Player of the Week (Sept. 21), TDS/CSN Team of the Week (Aug. 31)
• Cole Johnson - 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)

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 
SMU faces off against No. 8 Tulsa on Wednesday, Sept. 29 in Oklahoma. The contest is set for 7 p.m. start on ESPN+.