Box Score | Video Highlights

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (SMU) — In a back-and-forth match that came down to the final minutes, the SMU women's soccer program drew Miami 3-3 on Thursday inside Cobb Stadium.

Playing in their first road match this season, the Mustangs didn't let the change of scenery affect their offensive output as South Florida native Eliana Salama scored twice, and Nyah Rose found the back of the net in her second match back from the FIFA Women's U-20 World Cup.

Salama recorded her first career brace and has now netted a team-high six goals this season. She is the third Mustang to record a brace this year, joining Liz Eddy and Emma Alvord.

Rose scored her third goal this season in just her fourth match played for SMU this year. The 2024 Hermann Trophy Watch List Honoree has now tallied 14 goals in her career.

Goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde recorded a season-high seven saves on 18 shots faced (10 on goal), but none was bigger than denying a penalty shot in the 85th to keep the match tied.

It was a physical match on the pitch, as both teams had double-digit fouls, yet the Mustangs were still able to rattle off 15 shots. It was the fourth straight match SMU has recorded double-digit shots.  

With the draw, SMU remains unbeaten in conference action and is now 6-3-1 (2-0-1) on the year. Miami moves to 3-3-2 (0-1-1) this season.

// HOW IT HAPPENED
The scoring started almost immediately as Miami jumped out to the early lead in the fifth minute of the match.

The Mustangs responded in the 19^th minute as Salama netted her first goal of the night by sending a rocket to the back of the net from just outside the box. 

Both teams continued to create opportunities as the score (1-1) and shots taken (8-8) were even heading to half.

The combined four-goal second half began with Nyah Rose giving the Mustangs a 2-1 lead in the 49^th minute. Rose displayed her incredible first-touch ability as she volleyed a feed from Liz Eddy up to herself with her left foot before spinning all the way around to send a laser into the back of the net with her right foot, never letting the ball touch the ground.

SMU continued to send shots towards the goal, but Miami answered the two straight Mustang goals in the 61st minute, equalizing the match 2-2.

With both battling to gain control of the match, Salama took it upon herself to give the edge to the Mustangs as she drove deep inside the box before scoring her second goal of the night, giving SMU the lead (3-2) in the 70th minute.

However, Miami responded quickly in the 73^rd minute, slipping one past Cota-Yarde and tying the match at three apiece.

As time continued to wind down, Miami was awarded a penalty kick in the 85th minute, but Cota-Yarde stood tall and made a leaping save to keep the match at its final score of 3-3.
 
// OTHER NOTES
SMU is now 0-0-1 against Miami. Thursday's match was the first overall meeting between the two programs.
SMU has now scored at least three goals in six of its 10 matches this season, the most three-plus-goal matches in a season since 2019 (6).
In her third season as head coach of the Mustangs, Nicole Nelson is now 27-13-7 overall.
The Mustangs are now 468-243-60 all-time in program history.