SMU (4-2-1; 0-1-0 AAC) vs. FIU (4-2-0; 1-0-0 AAC)
Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium - Dallas, Texas
Friday, Sep. 23, 2022, 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Watch: ESPN+
Match Notes (PDF)
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DALLAS (SMU) – SMU men's soccer team continues conference play against FIU Friday at 7 p.m. in Dallas. 

SERIES HISTORY 

• SMU and FIU have faced off 19 times. 
• The Mustangs are 16-3 all-time against the Panthers
• SMU has won the last three meetings against FIU.
• Friday's matchup marks the 20th match between the two programs.

KNOW THE FOE 

• FIU is 4-2 on the season and enters the SMU match after defeating then-No. 10 Tulsa 3-0 in its conference opener.
• The Panthers lost their season opener to now-15th ranked Akron. Following the loss, FIU won its next three matches over Saint John's, UNC and UNF. FIU's second loss of the season came in its nonconference finale, when the Panthers fell to New Hampshire, 3-0.  
• FIU was picked to finish fourth in the AAC Preseason Poll.

UP TO THIS POINT

• The Mustangs are 4-2-1 in 2022 and continue conference play after a 1-0 setback at Memphis to open AAC play.
• SMU ranks in the top 15 in the country in total goals scored (17). Additionally, the Mustangs rank in the top 25 nationally in scoring offense (2.83 per game), goal differential (11), points per game (7.14) and total shutout percentage (.571).
• Graduate Midfielder Knut Ahlander leads the AAC in goals scored with six and freshman Alexander Petraeus is the conference assist leader with five on the season. 
• 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 nonconference play. 

LAST TIME OUT

• SMU fell to Memphis 1-0 in its first AAC match of the season.
• The Mustangs outshot the Tigers in the first half 11-6 and finished with the 19-10 edge in the match, but SMU couldn't find the back of the net. Jose Ortiz had a team-leading six shots.
• SMU keeper Cole Johnson finished with four saves in the match, taking his total to 19 on the year.
• Alberto Cruz scored the lone goal of the night, finding the bottom right of the goal to give the Tigers the lead in the 65th minute.

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 the AAC's leading goal scorer and  is top ten nationally in goals per game.
• Ahlander has a team-high six goals on the year and enters Friday's matchup having scored at least one goal in four out of the Mustangs last six matches.

MUSTANGS IN THE RANKINGS

• The Mustangs checked in at No. 25  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 (Sep. 11)

MOMENTUM FOR JOHNSON

• SMU keeper Cole Johnson is off to a fast start in 2022, tallying 19 saves in six 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 AAC in assits with a team-high five on the year. Additionally, Petraeus has one goal in 2022. 
• Elton Hedstrom has scored two goals 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 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 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 vs. Temple at 7 in Dallas. 

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.