Mustangs Take Down No. 25 Tennessee In Home Opener

Sunday, August 27

Dallas, TX

7:15 p.m.

SMU

1-1-0, 0-0-0

Tennessee

3-1-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Tennessee	1	0	1
SMU	1	1	2

August 27, 2023: Tennessee Volunteers vs. SMU Mustangs at Washburne Stadium. Photo by Vladimir Cherry.

Mustangs Take Down No. 25 Tennessee In Home Opener

Aug 27 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Boxscore
Video: Salama game-winner
Video: Rose goal in 22^nd minute
Coach Nelson postgame
Salama postgame interview

DALLAS (SMU) – Eliana Salama scored the game-winner in the 83^rd minute as SMU women's soccer won its home opener 2-1 versus No. 25 Tennessee on Sunday at Washburne Stadium.

𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫!

Eliana Salama's goal seals an SMU win, 2-1!#PonyUp | #PonyUpDallas pic.twitter.com/Uoi2cSSFEP
— SMU Women's Soccer (@SMUSoccerW) August 28, 2023

SMU posted its first score of the night in the 22^nd minute. Freshman Nyah Rose scored her first goal as a Mustang off an assist from senior Mackenzie Rudden to put SMU up 1-0. Tennessee's Sizzy Lawton scored in the 42^nd minute, tying the score 1-1 just before the half.

Nyah Rose scores her FIRST career goal to put SMU up 1-0!#PonyUp | #PonyUpDallas pic.twitter.com/8S9YJyHL2J
— SMU Women's Soccer (@SMUSoccerW) August 28, 2023

Senior Samantha Estrada finished her second 90-minute outing of year with five saves off 15 shots from Tennessee.

SMU applied pressure to the Tennessee defense throughout the entire first half. Sophomore Sophie King also advanced the ball down the left side of the pitch twice in the first 15 minutes, resulting in an SMU corner kick and shot-on-goal from King. Freshman Emma Alvord snuck behind the defense in the 17^th minute, sending a shot-on-goal to Tennessee's Ally Zazzara.

Freshman Treasure Byars sent a shot-on-goal in the 48^th minute, jumping the Mustangs out to quick offensive start in the second half. SMU went on to take eight shots, five of which were on-goal.

The Mustangs took the lead in the 83^rd minute from a goal by Salama that went in the lower left corner after she split a double team.

SMU continued its stellar defensive streak under Head Coach Nicole Nelson. The Mustangs have allowed one of fewer goals in 17 of Nelson's 21 games as head coach.

SMU's victory versus the Volunteers comes as the first home ranked win since shutting out No. 21 Texas on Nov. 14, 2021.

SMU is back in action on Thursday at Stephen F. Austin in its first match of a three-game road trip. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be available via ESPN+.