SMU (4-1-1) at Memphis (2-1-1)
Billy J. Murphy Soccer & Track Complex - Memphis, Tenn.
Saturday, Sep. 17, 2022, 7 p.m.
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Match Notes (PDF)
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DALLAS (SMU) – SMU men's soccer team opens American Athletic Conference play at Memphis Saturday night at 7 p.m.

SERIES HISTORY
• SMU and Memphis have faced off 22 times.
• SMU fell to Memphis in last season's regular season finale.
• Prior to last season, the Mustangs had won eight out of the last nine matchups against the Tigers.
• Friday's contest marks the 23rd match between the two programs.

KNOW THE FOE
• Memphis is 2-1-1 on the season and enters the SMU match after a 1-0 victory against UW-Green Bay.
• The Tigers started the season with a 5-0 win over Queens, followed by a tie against the College of Charleston. Memphis's lone loss was a 1-0 setback against Xavier.
• Memphis was selected to finish seventh in the AAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

UP TO THIS POINT
• The Mustangs (RV/16/19) are 4-1-1 in 2022 and enter AAC play after battling No. 23 UNCG to a 0-0 draw.
• SMU ranks in the top ten in the country in total goals scored (17) and scoring offense (2.83 per game). Additionally, the Mustangs are top 25 nationally in assists per game (2.67), goal differential (12), points per game (8.33) and total shutout percentage (.667).
• 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, followed by taking down preseason No. 10 Saint Louis 3-0.

LAST TIME OUT
• SMU battled No. 23 UNCG to a 0-0 draw Tuesday night in Dallas.
• The Mustang defense was solid throughout the match, anchored by sophomore midfielder JP Jordan. SMU shut down the nation's second goal-scoring offense, only allowing seven total shots in its second straight and fourth shutout of the season
• The AAC's reigning Goalkeeper of the Week Cole Johnson posted his third clean sheet of the year, tallying one save. Johnson denied the Spartans' only shot on goal in the 48th minute.
• Seven different Mustangs fired shots but weren't able to find the back of the net. SMU held a decisive 18-7 advantage in shots, with eight on goal. SMU held the final edge in corner kicks 6-4, including a 5-0 clip at halftime.

FAST START FOR JOSE ORTIZ
• Jose Ortiz is having a career season for the Mustangs.
• The junior from Arlington, Texas, propelled the Mustangs to a 4-0 victory after scoring a career and team-high three goals in the season opener. Against UTRGV, he recorded his second multigoal match of the season, and added an assist.
• Ortiz is second in goals scored in the AAC behind fellow Mustang Knut Ahlander.
• 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 has started off the season strong. Ahlander is tied as the nation's leading goal scorer.
• Additionally, Ahlander leads the AAC in goals scored in 2022.
• Ahlander has a team-high six goals on the year and enters Saturday's matchup having scored at least one goal in four out of the Mustangs last five matches.

MUSTANGS IN THE RANKINGS
• The Mustangs checked in at No. 16 in the 2022 Top Drawer Soccer poll.
• SMU checked in at No. 19 in College Soccer News Top 25.
• The Mustangs recieved 14 votes in the UnitedSoccerCoaches.org rankings, falling just outside the top 25.

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 (Sep. 11)

MOMENTUM FOR JOHNSON
• SMU keeper Cole Johnson is off to a fast start in 2022, tallying 15 saves in five starts, including three clean sheets this season.
• Johnson's four saves on a total of 27 shots and a clean sheet earned him AAC Goalkeeper of the Week honors Sept. 12.
• Johnson recorded 44 saves in 2021, which was the most in the AAC. Johnson totaled a career-high 10 saves versus UCF on Oct. 16 while the team added two for a total of 12.
• Johnson's double-digit saves was the highest total for the Mustangs since Oct. 6, 2019 when Grant Makela saved 10 versus then-No. 11 UCF in Dallas.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
• SMU's freshmen have played a large role in the Mustangs season success.
• Alexander Petraeus leads the team in assist with five on the year, and is tied for second nationally. Additionally, Petraeus has one goal in 2022.
• Elton Hedstrom has two goals on two shots this season, and Fredrik Skilberg has added one goal and an assist to start his career.

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.
• Bram Kaarsgaren, Henry Howell and Jon Paul 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 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 vs. FIU Friday at 7 p.m.

ESPN+ COVERAGE
• This season, all of SMU's home games will be featured on ESPN+ along with a select few away games. Stay up-to-date on coverage information on SMUMustangs.com.