SMU (6-7-2, 2-4-2 ACC) vs No. 2 Wake Forest (9-2-2, 4-1-1 ACC)
Washburne Stadium – Dallas, Texas
Saturday, Oct. 19 |  7 pm  (CT)
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// SETTING THE SCENE

• The SMU women's soccer program continues its inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) by facing No. 2 Wake Forest inside Washburne Stadium in the team's final regular season home match on Saturday.
• Saturday's match is the Mustangs' breast cancer awareness match. The team will wear pink uniforms, and fans are encouraged to wear pink as well. The first 150 fans in attendance will receive a pink SMU Soccer T-shirt. Fans can enjoy happy hour, featuring half-off select alcoholic drinks the hour before the match starts.
• The Mustangs will look to get back in the win column after dropping their last four matches. SMU started conference action 2-0-2 as the team defeated Syracuse (4-1) and Boston College (1-0) in its first two matches before drawing Miami (3-3) on the road and the No. 2 Florida State (1-1) at home.
• SMU has scored 29 goals this season, the most goals scored in a single season since 2019, when the team scored 40.
• For the second straight week, the ACC placed a nation-best nine teams in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll. The league has the top two teams in this week's poll as Duke remained at No. 1 for the second straight week and Wake Forest jumped a spot to No. 2. North Carolina is No. 4, Stanford is No. 6, Notre Dame is No. 12, Virginia Tech is No. 18, Florida State is No. 22, Virginia is No. 23 and California is No. 25.
• With two matches remaining, SMU currently sits 11th in the conference rankings with eight points. Only the top six teams in the ACC advance to the conference tournament.
• This season will mark the 39th year of women's soccer on the Hilltop and the third under head coach Nicole Nelson.  The Mustangs are 16-7-3 at home under Nelson.

// THE MATCH UP

• Saturday's match will be the first time they have ever faced each other on the pitch. Wake Forest is the fifth opponent the Mustangs are playing against for the first time in program history this season (Miami, Syracuse, Boston College, Virginia Tech).   
• With Wake Forest ranked No. 2 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, it will be the Mustang's sixth straight opponent that has held a top-25 ranking. The last time SMU defeated a team-ranked team inside Washburne Stadium was last season when the team took down No. 25 Tennessee 2-1.
• Sunday's match will mark the fourth time in program history the team will face No. 2 overall ranked team. The Mustangs drew No. 2 Florida State 1-1 at home earlier this season. SMU 0-2-1 against No.2 teams.
• A win over the Demon Deacons would be the highest-ranked win in program history. SMU's last top-five-ranked win occurred during the 1997 season as the team defeated No. 4 Texas A&M, 1-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.  
• The last time SMU defeated a nationally ranked top 10 team was in 2012 when the Mustangs beat No. 8 UCF 2-1 on the road.
• Wake Forest is the sixth straight opponent SMU will face that has held a national top 25 ranking. The match against the Demon Deacons will be the Mustang's seventh match this season facing a ranked opponent, tying the program record for most ranked opponents faced in a single season (7, 1997).

// HISTORIC OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION

• During conference action, SMU is eighth in the conference in goals scored with 11 and ranks ninth in goals per game, averaging 1.38.
• The Mustangs have had seven players score at least two goals this season, the most since the team had seven during the 2021 season. Four Mustangs have scored three or more goals this season.
• SMU currently ranks ninth in the ACC and 57th in the NCAA in total goals scored with 29.  
• Eliana Salama, Liz Eddy and Emma Alvord have all recorded braces this season. It is the first time since 2022 the Mustangs have had three different players record a brace in the same season.
• The Mustangs have scored at least three goals in six matches this season. It is the most since 2019, when SMU also had six matches of scoring three or more goals. 
• SMU has scored at least three goals in its first four matches, marking the first time since 2004 that the team has accomplished the feat.
• The Mustangs scored 17 goals through their first five games, which is tied for the fifth most goals scored in the first five games of a season in program history and the most since the team scored 20 to start the 2016 season.
• SMU tallied 100 shot attempts in its first five matches and is one of only four ACC schools that had 100 or more shots in that time frame: Florida State-135 (4gm), North Carolina-126, Pitt-111, SMU-100.
• The Mustangs have recorded over 20 shots in four matches this season. It is the first time since 2019 (7) SMU has had multiple matches with over 20 shots taken. Between 2020-23 SMU only had three matches total with over 20 shots taken.

 
// DEFENSIVE PROWESS

• SMU ranks second in the conference in total saves with 79 and boasts a save percentage of 0.750. The 79 saves are the most for the Mustangs since the team ended the 2021 season with 100.
• Goalkeeper Sierra Cota Yarde has recorded 67 saves this season, the most since former Mustang Tatum Sutherland had 67 during the 2019 season.
• The Mustangs have allowed one or fewer goals in 39 of 52 games played under Head Coach Nicole Nelson. This season, SMU has achieved the feat in nine of its 15 matches.
• SMU did not allow a goal in the run of action in its first two ACC matches. Syracuse scored their lone goal on a penalty kick and the team shutout Boston College.
• Since 2022, SMU has shut out 17 opponents, including back-to-back shutouts against Northwestern State (3-0) and Texas Southern (6-0) to begin this season. It marked the fifth time in program history that the Mustangs have not allowed a goal in the season's first two games.
• The Mustangs earned their third shutout of the season against Little Rock (2-0) and shut out three of its first five opponents for the first time since 2021.
• SMU only allowed five shots through the first two games. The Mustangs did not allow Texas Southern to record a single shot, outshooting the Tigers 26-0.

 
 
// WELCOME TO THE SALAMA SHOW

• Eliana Salama has had a breakout season to remember, as she currently leads the team in goals scored with seven after scoring the team's lone goal against No. 9 Stanford.  She recorded her first career brace against Miami and has scored three goals in conference action. She is also tied for the team-high in assists this season with four (a career-high)
• Salama ranks inside the top 10 in the ACC in four categories: Total Points (8th,18), Total Goals (8th, 7), Goals Per Game (9th, 0.47), Shots Per Game (10th, 3).

 
// RECORD BOOK ROSE

• Nyah rose found the back of the net for the fifth time this season against No. 25 Virginia.  Her five goals currently rank second on the team, as she has now scored 16 goals in her SMU career. She currently ranks ninth all-time in goals per game in program history (0.59). 
• Nyah Rose scored four goals through her first five matches played this season.  Her last goal came against No. 2 FSU, helping the team secure a 1-1 draw. Rose scored in back-to-back matches after she netted her first goal since returning from the FIFA World Cup against Miami.
• She missed five matches, including the ACC opener, while playing for Team Canada in the FIFA Women's U-20 World Cup.  She returned to SMU for the team's match against Boston College.        
• Her four goals currently rank second on the team, as she has now scored 15 goals in her SMU career. She currently ranks ninth all-time in goals per game in program history (0.57). 
• Rose was a 2024 Hermann Trophy Watch List Honoree.

 
// SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

• Wake Forest is led by head coach Tony da Luz, who is in his 28th season at the helm of the Demon Deacons and boasts a record of 312-198-61. Luz holds a career record of 358-240-64 in 33 years of head coaching.  
• Wake Forest is 9-2-2 (4-1-1 ACC) this season and currently holds their highest ranking in program history. The Deamon Deacons are 4-2-1 on the road this season.
• Wake Forest is playing its first match since Oct. 3 when the team defeated No. 6 Florida State 4-1 at home.   

 
// FRESHMEN CAME TO PLAY

• Freshman Liz Eddy found the back of the net for the fourth time this season against Syracuse and is tied for the team high in goals scored. She also drew a foul inside the box against Boston College that led to the match-winning goal. 
• Both freshmen Kelly Gordon and Eddy have already scored twice this season. Gordon scored her second career goal against SFA, marking the first time since 2018 that SMU had at least two freshmen score multiple goals. (Sebasco-6 / Celiana Torres-7)
• In total, three freshmen have scored a goal this season as Sadie Paul scored her first career goal against Texas Southern.
• Lydia Ungashick is the only freshman to start all 15 matches this season. She is third on the team in minutes played with 1119. She has played over 70 minutes in 13 of the team's 15 matches, including the full 90 against TCU and Baylor.