Box Score
 
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (SMU) — SMU Men's Soccer took down No. 21 Notre Dame 2-0 in South Bend, Indiana, on Saturday.
 
Milton Lopez scored a brace to clinch the Mustangs' first Atlantic Coast Conference win of the season.
 
SMU had the slight advantage through the majority of the match, outshooting the Fighting Irish 14 to nine while only controlling 46 percent of the possession.
 
Lopez's two goals in the second half earned the Mustangs the three points, as they improved their overall record to 4-2-3 and 1-0-2 in ACC play.
 
How It Happened
The Fighting Irish took the initiative in the first five minutes of the match, but SMU grew into the game.
 
In a see-saw half where both teams saw sparks of offensive momentum, SMU tipped the scale slightly their way, outshooting the hosts five to two and winning four corners to Notre Dame's two. The Mustangs had two shots on goal in the first half while the Irish had none.
 
Jaylinn Mitchell was an offensive spark for the Mustangs' offense at the start of the match, creating multiple chances on the final third.
 
The first 45 minutes ended scoreless.
 
The tale remained the same at the start of the second half, as both teams saw bursts of offensive possession.
 
SMU was on the front foot at around the 60^th minute and was able to take the lead through Lopez's goal in the 66^th minute.
 
Mathias Dick swung a cross from the left wing, but it was headed away by a Notre Dame defender. Lopez gathered the loose ball and took a strong shot right outside of the penalty box.
 
The Mustangs kept their foot on the gas and saw multiple chances to add to the lead. Charles-Emile Brunet was close to scoring the second goal with a shot outside the penalty box, but his effort was inches off the mark.
 
Notre Dame pushed for an equalizer, but SMU's defense stood strong.
 
Lopez killed the game with a goal in the final minute of the match.
 
Notre Dame's goalkeeper went up on offense for a corner kick, which SMU countered. Mukisa Emmanuel pinged the loose ball forward, which found Lopez, who slotted it to the empty goal to clinch the 2-0 win.
 
Other Notes
 

• This is SMU's first ranked win of the season.
• Milton Lopez scored his second brace for SMU. The last time he scored two goals was in last season's NCAA Elite Eight match against No. 8 Marshall.
• Milton Lopez now leads the Mustangs with seven goal contributions (five goals and two assists).
• Mukisa Emmanuel made his first assist for SMU.
• Martin Dominguez earned his first clean sheet of the season, posting two saves.
• Villads Landsperg has played full 90-minute matches in all nine matches this season (810 minutes).
• SMU now leads the all-time record against Notre Dame 3-2-1.

 
What's Next?
SMU will head home to host California at Washburne Stadium on Friday.