SMU (2-1-0) vs. UTRGV (1-1-1)
Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium - Dallas, Texas
Monday, Sep. 5, 2022, 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Watch: ESPN+
Match Notes (PDF)
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SMU Mobile App
Apple | Google Play
 
DALLAS (SMU) – SMU men's soccer team continues its nonconference schedule against UTRGV Monday at 7 p.m. in Dallas.  

SERIES HISTORY
• SMU and UTRGV have faced off five times since their first meeting on October 4, 1987.
• The last meeting between the two programs was the 1997 season when SMU won 9-1 in Dallas.
• Monday's contest will be the sixth matchup between the two schools and the first in the 2000s.

KNOW THE FOE
• UTRGV started the season 1-1-.1 The Vaqueros earned a 3-1 season-opening victory against Bryant, followed by a 1-1 draw vs. Oral Roberts. Most recently, UTRGV suffered its first loss of the season against Texas A&M International, 1-0.
• UTRGV was picked to finish seventh in the WAC preseason coaches poll.
• The Vaqueros finished 8-9 in 2021.

LAST TIME OUT
• Knut Ahlander's multigoal performance lifted SMU men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Central Arkansas last Friday.
• Ahlander got the Mustangs (2-1-0) on the board in the 13th minute, firing a shot into the lower-left corner past Central Arkansas goalkeeper Zach Schawl. Alexander Petraeus and Henry Howell set up Ahlander for the score.
• In the 59th minute, Ahlander netted his second goal of the night, converting on a penalty kick.
• Cole Johnson played the full game in goal for SMU, earning five saves on the way to recording the team's second shutout of the season.
• The Mustangs were aggressive throughout the entire match. SMU tallied 12 total shots, including eight shots on goal. In addition, SMU held an 11-7 edge in corner kicks.

FAST START FOR JOSE ORTIZ
• Forward Jose Ortiz had a breakout performance in the season opener.
• The junior from Arlington, Texas, propelled the Mustangs to a 4-0 victory after scoring a career and team-high three goals.
• 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. 20 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)

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 AllRookie Team thanks to their contributions on offense and defense, respectively.

MOMENTUM FOR JOHNSON
• SMU keeper Cole Johnson is off to a fast start in 2022, tallying 10 saves in two starts. He enters the UTRGV match off his first clean sheet of the season.
• 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.

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.

HEARTBEAT OF THE MUSTANGS
• SMU Midfielder Knut Ahlander has started off the season strong.
• Ahlander has three goals on the year and enters Monday's matchup after recording his first multigoal performance at SMU.

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 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 is on the road Friday, Sept. 9 at Saint Louis. Action is slated to start at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

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.