Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium - Dallas, Texas
Friday, September 10, 2021 – 7 p.m. CT
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The No. 8 Mustangs host the No. 23 Billikens on Friday, Sept. 10 at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium. The Top-25 matchup is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be shown on ESPN+.

SERIES HISTORY 
SMU and Saint Louis have played 35 times throughout program history, with the first matchup happening during the 1975 season. The latest match between the two powerhouses saw the Mustangs earn a 2-0 win during the 2019 season as they played at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium during the regular season. SMU holds a 7-6-4 record when playing the Billikens in Dallas. SMU has been ranked for 21 of the 35 matchups and maintained a 12-6-2 record during all of those contests. The two have meet seven times during the NCAA Tournament with the latest post-season match being in 1997. 

KNOW THE FOE 
Saint Louis remains undefeated with a 3-0-1 record on the season after earning wins over Louisville, Creighton and Memphis and a tie against the University of Illinois-Chicago. The wins over Creighton and Memphis were both shutouts as the Billikens won 3-0 and 4-0. The Billikens were picked to finish second in the A-10 preseason poll and receiving three first-place votes. Four earned preseason All-Conference honors as forwards Simon Becher and John Klein, midfielder Christian Buendia and defender Kipp Keller all earned spots on the team. SLU finished the 2020 season with a 9-5 record before falling to Fordham in the Atlantic 10 tournament championship.

LAST TIME OUT
SMU earned a 1-1 draw against Denver on Monday after playing through two overtimes as neither team could find a game-winner. Denver struck first with a goal in the 24th minute that was deflected off an SMU defender and found its way just over keeper Cole Johnson's head. The Mustangs tied the contest in the 77th minute as Knut Ahlander slid a pass to Skage Simonsen before Simonsen back-heeled the ball to Papa Ndoye. Ndoye 's shot went between a Pioneer defenders legs and past the keeper to knot the match at 1-1. Ndoye came close to breaking the tie with a bicycle kick that bounced off the crossbar in the 84th minute. Gabriel Costa led the way with five shots while Brandon Terwege and Ndoye both tallied four and Thomas Haney, three. Cole Johnson earned the win with two saves while keeping Denver from scoring the game-winning goal.

MUSTANGS IN THE RANKINGS
SMU moved up one spot in week two's United Soccer Coaches poll on Sept. 7 as the Mustangs came in at No. 8 after earning a 1-1 draw against Denver. The Mustangs are now No. 12 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll. Senior Gabriel Costa is tied with two others for fourth place in the NCAA in goals per game with 1.33.

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)
• Bailey Sparks - AAC Rookie of the Week (Sept. 6)

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
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 finishes its homestand with a match versus Incarnate Word on Monday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. Next week's action will be shown on ESPN+.