SMU (1-0-0) vs. Stanford (1-0-0)
Laird Q. Cagan Stadium- Stanford, California
Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, 9 p.m. (CT)
Live Stats | Watch: Pac-12.com
Match Notes (PDF)
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DALLAS (SMU). – SMU men's soccer team is set for its first road test of the 2022 season against Stanford on Sunday at 9 p.m. CT.

SERIES HISTORY
• SMU and Stanford have faced off eight times since their first meeting on September 29, 1989.
• The last meeting between the two programs was last season when the Mustangs took down then-No. 8 Stanford 3-1 in the 2021 season opener.
• Sunday's contest will be the ninth matchup between the two schools.

 KNOW THE FOE
• Stanford started the season 1-0 after winning its season-opener 1-0 against Villanova.
• Stanford earned a 3-1 victory over Sonoma State and a 2-0 win over San Francisco in exhibition play.
• The Cardinal were picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12 preseason coaches poll, earning 14 points.
• In 2021, Stanford finished 6-6-6 and fourth place in the Pac 12.

LAST TIME OUT
• SMU started the season strong with a 4-0 victory over Oral Roberts Thursday at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium.
• Jose Ortiz led the way for the Mustangs with a three-goal performance, scoring in the first 22 seconds of play. Shortly after, in the 10th minute, Ortiz scored off a diving header assisted by Alexander Petraeus and Henry Howell. Ortiz completed the hat trick in the 64th minute after cashing in on a penalty kick.
• Freshman Elton Hedstrom scored his first collegiate goal, heading one in the left side of the net from a Kyran Pinho and Roman Knox assist.
• The Mustangs played tight defense the entire night, earning the team's first shutout in 2022. SMU's goalkeepers tallied three saves on the night, one coming from starter Bram Kaarsgaren and two from returner Cole Johnson.

CAREER NIGHT FOR JOSE ORTIZ
• Forward Jose Ortiz had a breakout performance in the season opener against Oral Roberts.
• The junior from Arlington, Texas, propelled the Mustangs to a 4-0 victory after scoring a career and team-high three goals. Ortiz's hat trick was the first in a season opener since Mauro Cinhero did it to open the 2017 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.

MUSTANGS IN THE RANKINGS
• The Mustangs checked in at No. 12 in the 2022 Top Drawer Soccer poll.

RETURNERS 2021 CONFERENCE HONORS
• Midfielder Knut Ahlander earned an All-AAC First Team nod for the second consecutive season after making the list in the prior spring.
• Freshmen Bailey Sparks and Mads Westergren were named to the league's all-rookie team thanks to their contributions on offense and defense, respectively.

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.
• Braam Kaarsgaren, Henry Howell and JP Fernandez bring additional experience 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 JP Fernandez and Bram Karsgaren.
• 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 faces Central Arkansas on Friday, Sept. 2 back at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium. Action is slated to start at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.