The SMU men’s soccer team opened its season in wining form this weekend as the Mustangs won the University of Virginia Classic Tournament.

SMU secured the title by defeating Old Dominion 1-0 on Friday night and then beating host Virginia 3-1 on Sunday. Both wins featured a combination of team defense and the plays of goalkeeper Craig Hill.

Hill, a junior from San Antonio, made six saves in seven attempts in the two games and posted the second shutout of his career against Old Dominion. Head coach Tim McClements had nothing but praise for the keeper.

“Craig Hill did awesome. He made some great saves that kept us in it and allowed us to take control of games when we did score,” McClements said.

On the other side of the field the Mustangs had five different players score. Leading the offensive pack were seniors Gabe Arredondo and Paulo da Silva. The two seniors led the team with four points apiece over the weekend as they each scored and assisted on two goals.

Da Silva, who has missed extended periods of time in the past couple of years received a hero’s welcome after his first goal of the season. McClements talked about the team’s reaction to da Silva’s goal.

“The guys were very happy for Paulo, they celebrated for a long time with him, they were actually celebrating so much that we lost our focus for just a second and allowed a goal,” McClements said.

This weekend also proved to be a good one for McClements as he recorded his first two wins as head coach of the Mustangs, as well as his first tournament victory as head coach. McClements said that the first game always brings the same emotions.

“Every where I have been, whether it be as a head coach or an assistant, there is always anxiety at the beginning.”

After the first game, McClements said he felt “a little relief [and] more enjoyment. Its good to know how players are going to react in different situations.”

The Mustangs will have just a couple of days to get their legs back under them as they leave Thursday for Cal Legacy Classic in Berkley, Calif. SMU is set to play Stanford at 3:30 p.m. Friday and Cal at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

The play from this weekend has vaulted SMU from 14 to 8 in the Soccer America poll.