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DALLAS (SMU) —  The SMU women's soccer program earned its third shutout of the season, defeating Arkansas-Little Rock 2-0 on Thursday inside Washburne Stadium.
 
Junior Sammy Nieves and freshman Liz Eddy both scored their third goals of the season and are now tied with Eliana Salama (3) for the team-high this year.
 
After facing each other for the first time in 30 years, The Mustangs improved to 4-1-0 on the season, while the Trojans fell to 0-3-1.
 
SMU's defense pressure led to multiple offensive chances, as the team outshot Little Rock 12-3 in the first half and 21-10 over the entire 90 minutes. It was the third time this season that the Mustangs had recorded over 20 shots in a match.
 
Goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde claimed her first complete shutout as a Mustangs as she had a season-high four saves on 10 shots faced. She has now tallied five complete shutouts in her career. SMU's two previous shutouts this season were combined shutouts.
 
The Mustangs have now shut out three of its first five opponents for the first time since 2021.

SMU has now won four of its first five matches this season for the first time under head coach Nicole Nelson. The team went 3-0-2 in her first season (2022), and it is the first time since 2021 that the Mustangs have won four of their first five matches.  

// HOW IT HAPPENED

After being deadlocked nil-nil through the first 20 minutes of action, Sammy Nieves broke the scoreless draw in the 22^nd minute by collecting a rebound off a shot from Lou Brossault that ricocheted off the post and poked it into the back of the net.
 
Nieves' goal was the sixth of her career, and she has now tallied three goals this season, her most in a single season.
 
The Mustangs continued to attack on offense, rattling off shots before freshman Liz Eddy sent a bending ball past the outstretched arms of the Little Rock goalkeeper and into the top right corner of the net.
 
Eddy has had a strong start to her Mustang career and has netted three goals this season in the first five matches and is second on the team in total points with eight.
 
SMU outshot Little Rock 12-3 in the half as the Mustangs headed to the locker room up 2-0.
 
Little Rock came out of the break much more aggressive on offense, but the SMU's backline and goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde, who recorded three save in the half stood tall and did not concede a goal.
 
Halfway through the second half SMU turned back on the offensive pressure but could not find the back of the net for a third time. Emma Alvord had the Mustang's best chance in the second as she sent one off the crossbar in the 87^th minute.
 
The Mustangs outshot the Trojans 9-7 in the second half.
 

// OTHER NOTES
The Mustangs have scored 17 goals through 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 is now 8-0-0 all-time versus Little Rock, the most wins without a loss or draw against a single opponent in program history.
In her third season as head coach of the Mustangs, Nicole Nelson is now 25-11-6.
SMU improved to 14-4-2 at home under Nelson.
SMU now holds a record of 22-5-3 at home since 2021.
The Mustangs improved to 466-241-59 all-time in program history.