No. 20 SMU (8-3-1; 4-2-0 AAC) vs. USF (3-4-4; 2-0-3 AAC)
Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium - Dallas, Texas
Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Watch: ESPN+
Match Notes (PDF)
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No. 20 SMU hosts USF Friday night at 7 in Dallas. 

SERIES HISTORY 
SMU holds a 7-4-4 record all-time against USF.
The Mustangs defeated the Bulls twice last season.
SMU hasn't lost to South Florida since 2017, and enters Friday's match winning the last six meetings dating back to 2019. 

KNOW THE FOE 
USF is 3-4-4 on the year and 2-0-3 in AAC play. 
The Bulls started out the season with a tie against FGCU, followed by a three match losing streak. USF entered AAC play with a 1-3-1 record. 
The Bulls are undefeated in AAC matches, including wins over Temple and Tulsa, and draws against FAU, UAB and FIU. 
USF enters Friday's match following a 3-3 draw against FIU.

UP TO THIS POINT
The Mustangs are 8-3-1 and enter the USF match after a 3-1 setback at Charlotte. 
SMU remains in first place in the American Athletic Conference standings and is ranked 10th in the NCAA RPI. 
SMU checked in at No 20 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, and No. 24 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll. 
The Mustangs rank top 10 in the nation in scoring offense, assists per game, points per game and total points.
Prior to the Charlotte match, SMU was on a four game winning streak. During the streak, SMU took down FIU, Temple, UCF and UAB. 
SMU started off the year taking down Oral Roberts 4-0, followed by a setback at Stanford. The Mustangs bounced back by rattling off three straight victories, including two clean sheets against UCA and Saint Louis and an offensive explosion in a 7-2 win over UTRGV. The Mustangs battled then-No. 23 UNCG to a 0-0 draw to close out non-conference play. SMU opened conference play with a 1-0 setback at Memphis. 

LAST TIME OUT
No. 14 SMU fell to No. 19 Charlotte 3-1 Saturday night
SMU outshot Charlotte 16-11 in the match. Additionally, the Mustangs held the 7-6 edge in corner kicks. SMU found the back of the net for the first time in the 86th minute.  
Luke Johnson struck first for the 49ers in the 26th minute. Matthew Kirk scored in the top left of the goal in the 36th minute to give Charlotte its second goal of the night.
Charlotte scored its third goal in the 72nd minute when Brigham Larsen scored in the bottom center of the goal.

FAST START FOR JOSE ORTIZ
Jose Ortiz is having a career season for the Mustangs. The junior from Arlington, Texas, has three multigoal performances on the season. 
Ortiz propelled the Mustangs to a 4-0 victory after scoring a career and team-high three goals in the season opener. Following the hat track, Ortiz has tallied two more multigoal outings against UTRGV and FIU this season.
Ortiz started four games in 2021, scoring three goals across consecutive matches, totaling 25 shots and 11 shots on goal. The Mustangs will look for Ortiz to continue to produce as a scoring threat this season.

HEARTBEAT OF THE MUSTANGS
SMU Midfielder Knut Ahlander is putting together an impressive season.  
Ahlander is first in the conference in points per game (1.92) and is tied for first in the AAC in total goals scored with 10 on the year. 
Ahlander has three multigoal performances on the season and has tallied two assists. 
Ahlander enters Friday's matchup having scored at least one goal in seven out of the Mustangs last 11 matches.

MUSTANGS IN THE RANKINGS
The Mustangs checked in at No. 20 in the  United Soccer Coaches top 25. 
SMU is ranked No. 10 in the NCAA RPI. The Mustangs checked in at No. 24  in the 2022 Top Drawer Soccer poll.

2022 WEEKLY CONFERENCE HONORS
Jose Ortiz- Offensive Player of the Week (Aug. 29)
Elton Hedstrom- Rookie of the Week (Aug. 29)
Knut Ahlander- AAC Honor Roll (Sept. 6)
Knut Ahlander- Top Drawer Soccer Men's Team of the Week (Sept. 6)
Knut Ahlander- AAC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 12)
Alexander Petraeus- AAC Rookie of the Week (Sept. 12)
Cole Johnson- AAC Goalkeeper of the Week (Sept. 12)
Knut Ahlander- College Soccer News Team of the Week (Sept. 11)
Knut Ahlander- AAC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 26)
Nikola Djordjevic- AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 26)
Knut Ahlander- TDS Team of the Week (Sept. 26)
Fredrik Skilberg- AAC Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 3)
Bram Kaarsgaren- AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Oct. 3)
Fredrik Skilberg- Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week. (Oct 3)
Bram Kaarsgaren- AAC Honor Roll (Oct. 10)
Mads Westergren- AAC Honor Roll (Oct. 10)
Mads Westergren- TDS Team of the Week (Oct. 10)
Mads Westergren- CSN Team of the Week (Oct. 10)

DEFENDING THE GOAL
SMU's Goal Keepers have produced at a high level this season.
Bram Kaarsgaren enters Friday's match after with 18 saves and four wins on the year.
Kaarsgaren has earned a spot on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll in back-to-back weeks.
Cole Johnson has 21 saves in seven starts, including three clean sheets this season.

UNBEATEN IN DALLAS
SMU is 6-1-0 at home, outscoring opponents 24-7 at Washburne Stadium this season.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
SMU's freshmen have played a large role in the Mustangs season success.
Alexander Petraeus leads the team in assists with seven on the year. Petraeus is tied for first in the conference for total assists and assists per game.
Additionally, Petraeus has scored a pair of goals in 2022. 
Fredrik Skilberg has five goals on the year. The freshman forward was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week for his hat trick against Temple (Oct. 3).
Nikola Djordjevic is second on the team in assists with six, and added his first goal of the year against Charlotte.
Elton Hedstrom has scored two goals this season.

2022 PRESEASON HONORS
Mustang Midfielder Knut Ahlander was named to the Preseason All-AAC Team. In addition, the two time first team all-conference selection was named a United Soccer Coaches Player to watch for the 2022 season.
SMU was picked fifth in the AAC 2022 Preseason Coaches Poll.
SMU checked in at No. 12 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll.

NEW ADDITIONS
The Mustangs have added a 15-player 2022 recruiting class, one of the largest classes in program history. 
This group of newcomers ranks among the top 25 in the nation by TopDrawer Soccer. In addition, this marks SMU's fourth consecutive ranked recruiting class.
Bram Kaarsgaren, Henry Howell and JP Fernandez bring additional experince to the Hilltop as transfers.
The remaining 12 new faces are highly-touted incoming freshmen who make their way to Dallas from California, Connecticut, New Mexico, Florida, Oklahoma, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. Two hail from the metroplex as they choose to embrace Dallas' college as their new home.

SENIOR STANGS
SMU's roster includes four seniors and two graduate students. 
This year's senior class includes Judson Burns, Roman Knox, along with transfers Jon Paul Fernandez and Bram Kaarsgaren. 
Two-time all-AAC first team member and SMU 2021 assist leader Knut Ahlander returns to the Hilltop for another season. Joining Ahlander as a graduate student is transfer Henry Howell, who arrives in Dallas after starting all eight games at Davidson in 2021, adding experience to the roster. 

UP NEXT
SMU continues its conference slate Friday night at 6 CT at FAU.