The Mustangs travel down Interstate 30 to take on the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University. SMU enters the game with a record of 5-2-1 while TCU comes in 4-4 record.
The Mustangs are coming off of two impressive victories in Mississippi, defeating Ole Miss 3-2, and using double overtime to defeat the Bulldogs of Mississippi State 2-1.
The Horned Frogs suffered a loss to the University of Nebraska on Sunday, losing 4-0.
The two teams have played Notre Dame and Sam Houston State University. Notre Dame deafeated both teams, SMU 3-0 and TCU 2-0. Both teams defeated Sam Houston State, the Horned Frogs winning only 2-1, while the Mustangs routed the Bearkats 5-0.
But when these two teams get together season statistics and mutual opponents can be discarded. According to SMU head coach John Cossaboon the TCU game will be similar to the North Texas game. With many of the girls from the Dallas Fort Worth area, many of them have crossed paths in the past.
The Mustangs defeated the Horned Frogs 5-2 last season at Westcott Field. In 2005’s match-up it was all about the Bailey sisters. Kimber scored three goals with Krystal scoring the other two for the Mustangs. And it was current starting goalkeeper Ashley Gunter in net last year.
Now juniors Kimber and Krystal have more experience, and sophomore Ashley Gunter has proven that she can play with the best.
Then the Mustangs return to Dallas to face Oral Roberts University on Sunday afternoon at Westcott.
The Golden Eagles come Dallas with a 1-4-2 record on the year. ORU has allowed 14 goals on the season while scoring ten. But that number can be decieving, ORU defeated John Brown 7-0 in their season opener for their only victory, they have since allowed 14 goals and only scored three.
Junior Correne Walker leads the team with three goals, all coming in their season opening victory.
The Mustangs’ only two losses have come at the hands of top five ranked teams. No. 4 North Carolina and No. 1 ranked Notre Dame each defeated SMU 3-0, but in every other game the Mustangs have been able to hold their own, and go beyond.
Olivia O’Rear is now the team leader in goals picking up four this weekend. There are three Mustangs tied with three goals, Kimber Bailey, Krystal Bailey and Marisa Schieda. The team’s assist leader is Susanne Collins who has three on the year.
Goalkeeper Ashley Gunter has been impressive so far this season, playing almost 700 minutes and only allowing nine goals, six of which came in the two losses. Gunter also has recorded three shutouts on the season.
So far this season has been about team play for the Mustangs, no one player, with the exception of O’Rear’s stand out performance last week, has dominated the offensive side of the ball. And even with the great weekend she had, O’Rear only leads the team by one goal.
SMU hasn’t been selfish with the ball this season. As a team they have scored 17 goals with 14 assists.
The Mustangs have also controlled the games so far this year. SMU has out-shot their opponents 142-88, showing a strong team defense.
The Mustangs are 3-0-1 on the road so far this season, and look to remain undefeated in Fort Worth Thursday night, and look to improve upon a 2-2 home record on Sunday against Oral Roberts.
