The SMU women’s soccer team broke even in Conference USA play this weekend after falling to Rice 2-1 on Friday, but defeating Houston 2-1 on Sunday.
Friday night’s loss to Rice was the Mustangs’ second conference loss of the season.
Two weeks into conference play, the Mustangs stand at 4-7-1 overall, and 2-2-0 in C-USA.
The freshmen made the biggest impact in scoring for the Mustangs. Against Rice, freshman midfielder Dylan Jordan scored her first collegiate goal, but it was not enough to overcome the 1-0 lead the Owls held at the half.
Jordan’s goal to tie the game came in the 59th minute when she headed in a pass from sophomore teammate Lauren Shepherd. With the assist, Shepherd, the reigning Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week, tallied her team-leading fifth point of the season.
The Mustangs out-shot the Owls 15-12, but struggled in getting the ball past Rice’s goalkeeper Meghan Erkel.
The final goal came in the 74th minute, with a joint effort of the Owl’s offense to get the ball past freshman goalkeeper Courtney Webb.
“Things didn’t fall our way in the first match,” explained SMU assistant coach Derek Leader. “I think we outplayed and we’re happy with the girls’ performance.”
In Sunday’s victory over the Cougars, SMU rebounded from a 1-0 deficit in the second half to win. Led by the freshmen trio of forwards Logan May, Devon Herrman and Webb, SMU came alive in the second half by managing to make only three shots on goal, compared to Houston’s nine.
“From the standpoint of going down 1-0, and then coming back for two goals really showed true grit and hard work and determination. That’s what we want to build off: the fact that we can come back and the fact that we sustained it on Sunday against Houston,” said Leader.
While Houston’s offense nearly doubled the Mustangs in total shots, SMU’s freshmen still presented a strong counter attack. Herrman?led the Mustangs?with one goal, three shot attempts, and two shots on goal. May contributed with one goal,?two shots and?one shot on goal, while midfielder Kaitlyn Eidson helped out with two shots, one shot on goal, and one assist. Sophomore forward Sarah Benchaita also added a shot on goal for the Mustangs.
Houston opened the scoring in the 41st minute, when Islara Rodriguez intercepted a pass from the SMU defense and the Cougars converted it into a goal.
May tied the game 1-1 in the 49th minute after knocking in a pass from Eidson past Houston goalkeeper Shelby Scott. Outrunning Houston’s defense,?May was able to slide the ball down the right side of the field for the point. The?goal?marks May’s second of the season, tying her in second place for most goals on the team.
Herrman sealed the win for the Mustangs with her second collegiate goal, putting?SMU up 2-1?in the 69th minute. After failing to get a shot past Scott on her first attempt, Herrman connected on?the rebounded save to give her a wide-open net.
Webb, in her third college start, had two saves in the 90 minutes,?bringing her total to 22.
“We’re excited about the amount of freshmen we have and the ones who are coming through, but it was the team that won,” said Leader.
Houston fell to 4-6-1 overall, and 0-3-1 in the conference, putting them in the No.12 spot.
SMU currently stands at No. 8 in the conference.
SMU continues conference play on the road, taking on Marshall (4-4-4, 2-2-0) on Friday, followed by East Carolina on Sunday.
The Mustangs return home on Oct. 17 to host the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
