Men’s team routs UT Dallas 3-0 in second half play
Fans might not have recognized many of the faces on the playing field Friday night. The Mustangs graduated nine players from last year’s squad and have a whole new crop of recruits.
With 10 freshmen on the roster and three in the starting lineup, head coach Schellas Hyndman proved he has no problem going young this season.
“This season we must be patient,” Hyndman said. “We decided to go young and we are trying to develop the younger players into our team structure.”
The transition for the young players and the veterans moved slowly but produced an acceptable result.
The Mustangs picked up a season opening 3-0 win over UT Dallas Comets Friday night at Westcott Stadium.
The first half went scoreless. The Mustangs wasted multiple chances, and it was obvious that the squad was having trouble getting on the same page. The best chance of the first half came in the 42nd minute Collin Clark turned his defender in the open field and created a one-on-one break to goal. The flick off Clark’s foot hit the goalie’s shin and deflected wide.
In the second half, SMU was able to capitalize on the chances it created.
Senior Asher Hamilton scored SMU’s first goal of the season with a header off a pass from freshman forward Duke Hashimoto.
“I had been making that run all day,” Hamilton said. “I just waited for an opportunity, and when it came I put it away.”
“I was just trying to get used to playing with the guys,” Hashimoto said. “I wanted to stay relaxed and just play my game.”
Senior defender Toti Suarez scored the final goal in the 69th minute off a loose ball in the Comets’ box.
UT Dallas was out-shot by SMU 16-3 and the Mustangs recorded 11 corner kicks.
The men’s soccer team continued its season Monday night against Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Westsott Field. Look for stats from the game in Wednesday’s addition of the Daily Campus.
Men’s team routs UT Dallas 3-0 in second half play
