Sunday, October 27
Berkeley, Calif.
2pm CT
SMU
at
California
Mustangs Travel To The Bay Area To Face California | Sunday 2 pm CT
Oct 26 | Women's Soccer
SMU (6-8-2, 2-5-2 ACC) vs California (10-5-2, 3-4-1 ACC)
Edwards Stadium– Berkeley, Calif.Â
Sunday, Oct. 27  |  2 pm  (CT)
ACCNX | Get the ACC Network | ACC Network FAQs
Live Stats | SMU Notes | California | ACC Women's Soccer
Facebook | X | Instagram
SMU Mobile App | Apple | Google Play
// SETTING THE SCENE
// LAST TIME OUT
// HISTORIC OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION
// DEFENSIVE PROWESS
// RECORD BOOK ROSE
// SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Edwards Stadium– Berkeley, Calif.Â
Sunday, Oct. 27  |  2 pm  (CT)
ACCNX | Get the ACC Network | ACC Network FAQs
Live Stats | SMU Notes | California | ACC Women's Soccer
Facebook | X | Instagram
SMU Mobile App | Apple | Google Play
// SETTING THE SCENE
- The SMU women's soccer program closes out its inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) by traveling to the Bay Area to face California in its season finale at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday.
- The Mustangs will look to get back in the win column after dropping their last five 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 30 goals this season, the most goals scored in a single season since 2019, when the team scored 40.
- A nation-best eight ACC teams are in the top 25 of the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, headlined by six teams in the top 15. Duke and Wake Forest hold the top two spots, respectively, while North Carolina is No. 4. Notre Dame climbed to No. 7, Stanford is No. 12, Florida State is No. 17, Virginia Tech is No. 19 and Virginia is No. 24.
- 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. Â The Mustangs are 8-8-5Â on the road under Nelson.
- Saturday's match will be the fifth time the two programs have squared off against each other and the second time it will take place in Berkeley. Cal leads the series 4-0 all-series and Sunday's match will be the first time the two teams will face each other since 2009.
- Both SMU and Cal are in their first year as part of the ACC.
- A win over Cal would not only end a five-match losing streak for the Mustangs but will mark the team's first road win this season.
// LAST TIME OUT
- SMU played its final home match of the season as the team fell 2-1 to No. 2 Wake Forest.
- Wake Forest was the sixth straight opponent SMU has faced that has held a national top 25 ranking. The match against the Demon Deacons was 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).
- Eliana Salma added to her already career high goal season total by scoring her eight goal this season.
// HISTORIC OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION
- During conference action, SMU is ninth in the conference in goals scored with 12 and ranks ninth in goals per game, averaging 1.33.
- SMU currently ranks eight in the ACC and 60th in the NCAA in total goals scored with 30. Â
- 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.
- 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.Â
- 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 85 and boasts a save percentage of 0.748. The 85 saves are the most for the Mustangs since the team ended the 2021 season with 100.
- Goalkeeper Sierra Cota Yarde has recorded a career high 72 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 53 games played under Head Coach Nicole Nelson. This season, SMU has achieved the feat in nine of its 16 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.
- Â
Â
// WELCOME TO THE SALAMA SHOW
- Eliana Salama has had a breakout season to remember, as she currently leads the team in goals scored with eight after scoring the team's lone goal against No. 2 Wake Forest. 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 three categories: Total Points (7th,20), Total Goals (6th, 8), Goals Per Game (8th, 0.50). Â
// RECORD BOOK ROSE
- Nyah rose found the back of the net for the fifth time this season against No. 25 Virginia. Â 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 (0.57).Â
- 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.       Â
- 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).Â
- Rose was a 2024 Hermann Trophy Watch List Honoree.
// SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
- Cal is led by head coach Niel McGurie, who is in his 18th season at the helm of the Golden Bears and boasts a record of 195-116-49. McGuire holds a career record of 239-185-56 in 24 years of head coaching. Â
- Cal is 10-5-2 (3-4-1 ACC) this season and has been ranked as high as No. 16 earlier this season.
- The Golden Bears are on a four match losing streak and fell 2-1 on road to Louisville last time out.
- Cal is 8-2-1 at home this season and is led by Karlie Lema who currently leads the ACC in goals, 15, and shots on goal, 42.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerTuesday, October 13
Tuesday, October 13
Tuesday, October 13
Tuesday, October 13
