Thursday, October 6
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
SMU
at
Houston
SMU (6-2-3) At Houston (5-4-2) | Thursday 7pm On ESPN+
Oct 5 | Women's Soccer
SMU (6-2-3, 1-2 AAC) at Houston (5-4-2, 1-1-1 AAC)
Carl Lewis International Complex – Houston, Texas
Thursday, Oct. 6 | 7 p.m. CT
ESPN+ |Â Live Stats
SMU Notes | The American | Houston
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SMU Mobile App | Apple | Google Play
SETTING THE SCENE
•   The Mustangs play at Houston on Thursday to start a two-game road trip (at UCF Sunday).
•   The Mustangs are unbeaten at 1-0-3 on the road this season. SMU has a win at Temple as well as draws at then-No. 11 Tennessee,  Oklahoma and San Francisco.
•   SMU is 6-2-3 after a 1-0 loss to USF at home last Thursday. It was just the second loss of the season for the Mustangs.
•   The Mustangs are 5-2 at home this season and 13-3-1 at home over the past two seasons.
•   SMU's  unbeaten streak through the first seven matches was the second-longest unbeaten start for SMU. The only longer streak was the first 24 matches of the 1995 season when the Mustangs finished 23-1-1 and reached the College Cup semifinals.
2022 HONORS & AWARDS
• Preseason All-AAC
   Wayny Balata, Courtney Sebazco
• Hermann Trophy Watch List
   Courtney Sebazco
•   College Soccer News National Team of the Week
   Aug. 22 - Courtney Sebazco
• AAC Weekly Honors
   Aug. 22
   Courtney Sebazco (Offensive Player of the Week)
   Peyton Annen (Rookie of the Week)
   Samantha Estrada (Honor Roll)
   Aug. 29
   Sammy Nieves (Honor Roll)
   Sept. 5
   Courtney Sebazco (Offensive Player of the Week)
   Julissa Cisneros (Honor Roll)
   Samantha Estrada (Honor Roll)
   Sept. 12
   Julissa Cisneros (Honor Roll)
   Sept. 19
   Mackenzie Rudden (Honor Roll)
   Sept. 26
   Alina Khan (Offensive Player of the Week)
   Samantha Estrada (Goalkeeper of the Week)
   Sammy Nieves (Honor Roll)
AAC LEADERS
•   SMU has the most AAC Weekly Honors this season with 12  (ECU has 10). The Mustangs have 4 Player of the Week selections, a Rookie of the Week and 7 honor roll spots.
•   SMU is leading the league in save percentage (.870) and is second in goals against average (.636). Julissa Cisneros is leading the AAC (59th NCAA) with six goals and is second in the league with two winners. Sammy Nieves is second in the AAC with four assists.
LEADING MUSTANGS
•   Graduate senior Courtney Sebazco - MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree and preseason All-AAC selection - has two goals and three assists on the season. She has been AAC Offensive Player of the Week twice this season.
•   Julissa Cisneros leads the AAC  scoring with six goals (59th NCAA) and Sammy Nieves has a goal and a four assists (2nd AAC). Cisneros was on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll for Sept. 5  and Sept. 12.
•   Senior goalkeeper Samantha Estrada, has 35 saves and allowed just four goals in 701 minutes. She has been AAC GK of the Week once and has two AAC Weekly Honor Roll nods. Tatum Sutherland has also allowed just three goals in 288 minutes. They have combined for five shutouts.
BALANCED SCORING
•   Eight Mustangs have scored at least one goal already this season and 11 have recorded at least one point.Â
HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
•   Courtney Sebazco was named to the preseason Hermann Trophy Watch List. She has two goals and three assists. The preseason All-AAC honoree has garnered AAC Offensive Player of the Week twice and was on College Soccer News Team of the Week for Aug. 22.
LAST TIME OUT
•   No. 24 SMU lost for just the second time this season in a 1-0 decision to USF. Chiara Hahn gave USF the early lead in the 19th minute. Wayny Balata had a good look at an equalizer for SMU in the 83rd minute that USF goalkeeper Sydney Martinez found a way to keep out of the net. Sammy Nieves hit the left post on a shot in the 65th minute. Samantha Estrada made three saves in the game. The SMU defense has allowed just seven goals this season.Â
SERIES HISTORY
•   SMU is 17-2-2 against Houston. The Mustangs had won seven straight in the series before a 1-0 loss last season in Dallas.
UP NEXT
•    SMU stays on the road to visit  UCF on Sunday.
SMU in 2021
•   SMU was 12-5-2 overall (4-2-2 AAC).
•   All 4 AAC wins were shutouts.
•   The Mustangs were 8-1-1 at home and 4-4-1 on the road.
•   11 different players scored, with seven hitting the back of the net more than once.
•   SMU outscored opponents 27-17 with 10 shutouts.
•   SMU advanced in the NCAA Tournament with a 2-0 win against No. 21 Texas.Â
 IN THE TOP 25
•    SMU was ranked in the first seven United Soccer Coaches Top 25 polls. The high this season was No. 15 on Aug. 23 and Aug. 30. Â
•   SMU had been ranked in 17 straight United Soccer Coaches Top 25 polls (last 10 of 2021 and the first sseven of 2022).
•   SMU was No. 21 in the final poll last season after being as high as No. 14 twice in 2021.
•   SMU was ranked No. 3, the highest ranking in program history, in the final poll at the end of the 1995 season after advancing to the 1995 College Cup, finishing with a 23-1-1 record.Â
COACHES CORNER
•    First-year head coach Nicole Nelson previously spent eight seasons as an Associate Head Coach and Assistant Coach for the Mustangs from 2012-2019 under previous head coach Chris Petrucelli.
•   Prior to her time on the Hilltop, Nelson served as head coach at Oklahoma (2007-11), assistant coach under Petrucelli at Texas (2006-07), recruiting coordinator/assistant coach at Baylor (2005), and head coach at Stephen F. Austin (2002-04).Â
RETURNING MUSTANGS
• The Mustangs return 20 players from the 2021 season.
• Of the 18 returners, 9 saw playing time in 2021.Â
• Returning Mustangs account for 21 of 28 goals scored (75%), 14 of 23 assists made (61%), and 52 of 79 points accrued (66%) throughout the 2021 season.Â
• SMU returned both of its primary goalkeepers in Samantha Estrada and Tatum Sutherland.
NEW MUSTANGS
• SMU added nine freshman and three transfer additions to its roster for 2022.Â
•   Mayu Inokawa, a sophomore midfielder transfer from Iowa Western Community College hailing from Saitama, Japan, joins two other Mustangs who originate from outside the United States (Wayny Balata - Montreal, Quebec; Jordina Colomer - Manlleu, Catalunya, Spain).
•   Three 2022 additions are Dallas-area natives - USF transfer Hannah Wrigley (Lewisville); freshman Peyton Annen (Plano); freshman Jen Jackson (Dallas).Â
2022 AAC All-Preseason Team
• Wayny Balata and Courtney Sebazco were named to the American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Senior midfielder Balata scored a team-high six goals in 2021, and added two assists for a total of 14 points.Â
•   Sebazco logged four goals and four assists on the year, earning 12 points for the Mustangs.Â
2022 AAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1Â Â Â Memphis (6)Â Â Â 62
2Â Â Â South Florida (1)Â Â Â 52
3Â Â Â UCF (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â 48
   SMU      48
5   Cincinnati   33
   Houston (1)   33
7   Temple      20
8   East Carolina   19
9   Tulsa      10
FIRST-PLACE VOTES IN PARENTHESIS
ESPN+ COVERAGE
• This season, all of SMU's home matches will be featured on ESPN+ along with most away games. Stay up-to-date on coverage information on SMUMustangs.com.
Â
Carl Lewis International Complex – Houston, Texas
Thursday, Oct. 6 | 7 p.m. CT
ESPN+ |Â Live Stats
SMU Notes | The American | Houston
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SMU Mobile App | Apple | Google Play
SETTING THE SCENE
•   The Mustangs play at Houston on Thursday to start a two-game road trip (at UCF Sunday).
•   The Mustangs are unbeaten at 1-0-3 on the road this season. SMU has a win at Temple as well as draws at then-No. 11 Tennessee,  Oklahoma and San Francisco.
•   SMU is 6-2-3 after a 1-0 loss to USF at home last Thursday. It was just the second loss of the season for the Mustangs.
•   The Mustangs are 5-2 at home this season and 13-3-1 at home over the past two seasons.
•   SMU's  unbeaten streak through the first seven matches was the second-longest unbeaten start for SMU. The only longer streak was the first 24 matches of the 1995 season when the Mustangs finished 23-1-1 and reached the College Cup semifinals.
2022 HONORS & AWARDS
• Preseason All-AAC
   Wayny Balata, Courtney Sebazco
• Hermann Trophy Watch List
   Courtney Sebazco
•   College Soccer News National Team of the Week
   Aug. 22 - Courtney Sebazco
• AAC Weekly Honors
   Aug. 22
   Courtney Sebazco (Offensive Player of the Week)
   Peyton Annen (Rookie of the Week)
   Samantha Estrada (Honor Roll)
   Aug. 29
   Sammy Nieves (Honor Roll)
   Sept. 5
   Courtney Sebazco (Offensive Player of the Week)
   Julissa Cisneros (Honor Roll)
   Samantha Estrada (Honor Roll)
   Sept. 12
   Julissa Cisneros (Honor Roll)
   Sept. 19
   Mackenzie Rudden (Honor Roll)
   Sept. 26
   Alina Khan (Offensive Player of the Week)
   Samantha Estrada (Goalkeeper of the Week)
   Sammy Nieves (Honor Roll)
AAC LEADERS
•   SMU has the most AAC Weekly Honors this season with 12  (ECU has 10). The Mustangs have 4 Player of the Week selections, a Rookie of the Week and 7 honor roll spots.
•   SMU is leading the league in save percentage (.870) and is second in goals against average (.636). Julissa Cisneros is leading the AAC (59th NCAA) with six goals and is second in the league with two winners. Sammy Nieves is second in the AAC with four assists.
LEADING MUSTANGS
•   Graduate senior Courtney Sebazco - MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree and preseason All-AAC selection - has two goals and three assists on the season. She has been AAC Offensive Player of the Week twice this season.
•   Julissa Cisneros leads the AAC  scoring with six goals (59th NCAA) and Sammy Nieves has a goal and a four assists (2nd AAC). Cisneros was on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll for Sept. 5  and Sept. 12.
•   Senior goalkeeper Samantha Estrada, has 35 saves and allowed just four goals in 701 minutes. She has been AAC GK of the Week once and has two AAC Weekly Honor Roll nods. Tatum Sutherland has also allowed just three goals in 288 minutes. They have combined for five shutouts.
BALANCED SCORING
•   Eight Mustangs have scored at least one goal already this season and 11 have recorded at least one point.Â
HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
•   Courtney Sebazco was named to the preseason Hermann Trophy Watch List. She has two goals and three assists. The preseason All-AAC honoree has garnered AAC Offensive Player of the Week twice and was on College Soccer News Team of the Week for Aug. 22.
LAST TIME OUT
•   No. 24 SMU lost for just the second time this season in a 1-0 decision to USF. Chiara Hahn gave USF the early lead in the 19th minute. Wayny Balata had a good look at an equalizer for SMU in the 83rd minute that USF goalkeeper Sydney Martinez found a way to keep out of the net. Sammy Nieves hit the left post on a shot in the 65th minute. Samantha Estrada made three saves in the game. The SMU defense has allowed just seven goals this season.Â
SERIES HISTORY
•   SMU is 17-2-2 against Houston. The Mustangs had won seven straight in the series before a 1-0 loss last season in Dallas.
UP NEXT
•    SMU stays on the road to visit  UCF on Sunday.
SMU in 2021
•   SMU was 12-5-2 overall (4-2-2 AAC).
•   All 4 AAC wins were shutouts.
•   The Mustangs were 8-1-1 at home and 4-4-1 on the road.
•   11 different players scored, with seven hitting the back of the net more than once.
•   SMU outscored opponents 27-17 with 10 shutouts.
•   SMU advanced in the NCAA Tournament with a 2-0 win against No. 21 Texas.Â
 IN THE TOP 25
•    SMU was ranked in the first seven United Soccer Coaches Top 25 polls. The high this season was No. 15 on Aug. 23 and Aug. 30. Â
•   SMU had been ranked in 17 straight United Soccer Coaches Top 25 polls (last 10 of 2021 and the first sseven of 2022).
•   SMU was No. 21 in the final poll last season after being as high as No. 14 twice in 2021.
•   SMU was ranked No. 3, the highest ranking in program history, in the final poll at the end of the 1995 season after advancing to the 1995 College Cup, finishing with a 23-1-1 record.Â
COACHES CORNER
•    First-year head coach Nicole Nelson previously spent eight seasons as an Associate Head Coach and Assistant Coach for the Mustangs from 2012-2019 under previous head coach Chris Petrucelli.
•   Prior to her time on the Hilltop, Nelson served as head coach at Oklahoma (2007-11), assistant coach under Petrucelli at Texas (2006-07), recruiting coordinator/assistant coach at Baylor (2005), and head coach at Stephen F. Austin (2002-04).Â
RETURNING MUSTANGS
• The Mustangs return 20 players from the 2021 season.
• Of the 18 returners, 9 saw playing time in 2021.Â
• Returning Mustangs account for 21 of 28 goals scored (75%), 14 of 23 assists made (61%), and 52 of 79 points accrued (66%) throughout the 2021 season.Â
• SMU returned both of its primary goalkeepers in Samantha Estrada and Tatum Sutherland.
NEW MUSTANGS
• SMU added nine freshman and three transfer additions to its roster for 2022.Â
•   Mayu Inokawa, a sophomore midfielder transfer from Iowa Western Community College hailing from Saitama, Japan, joins two other Mustangs who originate from outside the United States (Wayny Balata - Montreal, Quebec; Jordina Colomer - Manlleu, Catalunya, Spain).
•   Three 2022 additions are Dallas-area natives - USF transfer Hannah Wrigley (Lewisville); freshman Peyton Annen (Plano); freshman Jen Jackson (Dallas).Â
2022 AAC All-Preseason Team
• Wayny Balata and Courtney Sebazco were named to the American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Senior midfielder Balata scored a team-high six goals in 2021, and added two assists for a total of 14 points.Â
•   Sebazco logged four goals and four assists on the year, earning 12 points for the Mustangs.Â
2022 AAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1Â Â Â Memphis (6)Â Â Â 62
2Â Â Â South Florida (1)Â Â Â 52
3Â Â Â UCF (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â 48
   SMU      48
5   Cincinnati   33
   Houston (1)   33
7   Temple      20
8   East Carolina   19
9   Tulsa      10
FIRST-PLACE VOTES IN PARENTHESIS
ESPN+ COVERAGE
• This season, all of SMU's home matches will be featured on ESPN+ along with most away games. Stay up-to-date on coverage information on SMUMustangs.com.
Â
Players Mentioned
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GK
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MF/F
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GK
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GK
/ Women's SoccerSaturday, October 17
Thursday, October 15
Wednesday, October 14
Wednesday, October 14
