SMU (6-5-2, 2-2-2 ACC) at No. 21 Virginia Tech (9-3-2, 4-1-1 ACC)
Thompson Field- Blacksburg, Va.
Thursday, Oct. 10 | 6  p.m. (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 beginning a two-match road trip in Virginia, taking on No. 21 Virginia Tech on Thursday at Thompson Field.
• The Mustangs will look to get back in the win column after dropping their last two matches against No. 3 Duke and No. 9 Stanford last time out. 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 28 goals this season, tying the most goals in a single season over the past four years (2023-28, 2021-28). A goal against Virginia Tech would be the most in a single season since 2019, when the team scored 40.
• The ACC placed a nation-best nine teams in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, the most by the conference this season. The league holds the top three spots for the second time this season as Duke jumped to No. 1, North Carolina at No. 2, and Wake Forest moved to No. 3. Stanford stays inside the top 10 at No. 7 and Notre Dame at No. 13, California at No. 17, Virginia Tech at No. 21, Florida State at No. 22 and Virginia at 25 round out the top 25.
• With four matches remaining, SMU currently sits tied for seventh 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 8-6-5 on the road under Nelson.

// THE MATCH UP

• Saturday's match will be the first overall meeting between the two programs. It will be the fourth time this season that the Mustangs have faced a program for the first time in school history.
• The Mustangs have only had two road matches heading Thursday. SMU played its first nine matches of the season at home and did not travel until its third conference match against Miami. The team is 0-1-1 on the road this season.
• With Virginia Tech ranked No. 21 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, it will be the Mustang's fourth straight opponent that has held a top-25 ranking. The last time SMU defeated a team ranked inside the top 25 on the road was in 2016 when the team defeated No.15 USF 1-0.
• It is the first time in program history that the Mustangs have played four straight matches against teams with a top-25. The Mustangs have faced five ranked opponents this season, the most since the team has played since 2016.

// HISTORIC OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION

• Through six ACC matches, SMU is tied for sixth in the conference in goals scored with 10 and second in total saves with 43. Virginia Tech ranks second in the conference with 12 goals scored.
• 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 eighth in the ACC and 37th in the NCAA in total goals scored with 27.
• 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

• The Mustangs have allowed one or fewer goals in 38 of 50 games played under Head Coach Nicole Nelson. This season, SMU has achieved the feat in eight of its 13 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 six categories: Total Points (6th,18), Points Per Game (8th 1.38), Total Goals (7th, 7), Goals Per Game (7th, 0.54), Shots Per Game (10th, 3.15), Shots on Goal Per Game (10th, 1.46).

// RECORD BOOK ROSE

• 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 (0.60). 
• Rose was a 2024 Hermann Trophy Watch List Honoree.

// RANKING THE MUSTANGS

• Goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde ranks second in the ACC in total saves with 57. She has recorded two compete shutouts this season, with the most recent occurring against Boston College. She recorded a season-high nine against No. 2 FSU. 
• As a team, SMU ranks 37th in the NCAA and eighth in the ACC in total goals with 28. The Mustangs also average 2.15 goals a game, which ranks 46th in the nation and eighth in the ACC.  On the defensive side, SMU is second in the conference in saves per game (5.15).

// SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

• Virginia Tech is led by head coach Chugger Adair, who is in his 14th season at the helm of the Hokies. He has spent his entire head coaching career at Virginia Tech and holds a record of 164-86-29.
• The Hokies are 9-3-2 (4-1-1 ACC) this season and has been ranked has high as No.21 this season in the College Soccer Coaches poll.
• Virginia Tech ranks 14th in the NCAA and third in the ACC in corner kicks per game with 7.43.
• Last time out, the Hokies defeated No. 6 Florida State 3-2 at home.