Box Score DALLAS (SMU) — No. 6 SMU concluded its season in the NCAA Round of Sixteen with a 7-1 loss against Oregon State on Saturday evening at Washburne Stadium.
The Mustangs won the American Athletic Conference regular season title, going undefeated in league play (7-0-1). This is SMU's 35th NCAA Tournament appearance and was the Mustangs' 24th time to the Round of Sixteen — the fourth under head coach Kevin Hudson.
In the seventh minute, the Mustangs started the game with a goal from AAC Rookie of the Year Niv Berkovitz, assisted by Jelldrik Dallmann, scoring a goal off a rebound from the Oregon State (10-5-5) goalkeeper, Luis Castillo.
SMU scored the first goal of the match before the Beavers scored twice in the first half and five times following the break.
In the final rankings for the regular season, the Mustangs (14-3-2) were ranked as high as No. 1 by Top Drawer Soccer, along with a No. 2 ranking from United Soccer Coaches. SMU was also ranked No. 3 by College Soccer News and fourth in NCAA RPI.
Hudson now has six NCAA Tournament appearances under his belt in nine season as head coach, including four trips to the round of sixteen.
Significant 2023 Season Stats:
- The Mustangs earned their 21st regular-season conference title.
- SMU was in the top three in three separate polls upon final rankings going to the NCAA Tournament: No. 2 - United Soccer Coaches, No. 1 - Top Drawer Soccer and No. 3 - College Soccer News and are ranked No. 4 in NCAA RPI.
- This was the Mustangs' 35 NCAA Tournament Appearances and the 24th round of sixteen.
- This marks SMU's sixth NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth Sweet Sixteen with participation from Hudson.
- Westergren is ranked in the top 100 national players by Top Drawer Soccer, coming in at No. 22.
- Dallmann is also ranked in the top 100 national players by Top Drawer Soccer, coming in at No. 27.
- The Mustangs accumulated 20 AAC weekly accolades: including 10 Honor Roll nods, four Offensive Players of the Week, four Goalkeepers of the Week, one Defensive Player of the Week and one Rookie of the Week.
- For the 2023 AAC Men's Soccer Awards, the Mustangs received all but one major individual award. Defensive Player of the Year went to Mads Westergren, Cole Johnson earned Goalkeeper of the Year honors, Bailey Sparks received Midfielder of the Year, Rookie of the Year went to Niv Berkovitz and the coaches earned Coaching Staff of the Year.
- Cole Johnson, Bailey Sparks, Mads Westergren and Jelldrk Dallmann earned First Team All-Conference, with Dallmann being a unanimous selection.
- For the All-Rookie Team, Alex Salvo earned a unanimous selection. Niv Berkovitz was also placed on the All-Rookie list.
