The SMU men’s soccer team will open up conference action against No. 14 UCF Saturday evening at Westcott Field. The Mustangs keep improving their record and are now at 5-3, while the Knights are at 7-1-1.
When looking back at past SMU vs. UCF matches, the Mustangs hold the winning record of 3-1-2. The last time these two faced off was last year in Oct. 2, 2010. The Knights upset the Mustangs with a score of 2-1 in Orlando. This was the only loss for the Mustangs in the regular season and in the conference.
The Knights now head over to Dallas after an intense face off against No. 21 Kentucky. UCF and Kentucky tied things up when UCF sophomore forward McKauly Tulloch scored in the 38th minute.
After a scoreless second half, the game when to overtime where the Knights emerged victorious. Senior midfielder Warren Creavelle scored the game-winning goal and his first goal of the season.
The Mustangs come back from a two-victory weekend in California. After a scoreless first half, against Cal St.-Northridge, redshirt freshmen midfielder Tyler Engel scored the one and only goal of the match in the 58th minute. Engel recorded his second goal of the season, tying the record for the season with Juan Castillo and Arthur Ivo.
Two days after their victory in Northridge, the Mustangs headed to Los Angeles to face No. 18 UCLA. Senior midfielder Arthur Ivo wasted no time in setting the pace for SMU.
Just one minute into the first half, Ivo fired the ball into the back of the net after finding the ball in the box from a wasted free kick.
Ten minutes later the Bruins responded with a goal by junior forward Chandler Hoffman for his ninth goal of the season. Castillo finished the game early in the 27th minute, when he netted the ball from just a few yards out from the goal for his second goal of the season.
After an eventful and victorious weekend in California, Castillo and sophomore goalkeeper Jaime Ibarra were named the Conference USA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively.
Castillo earned the award after getting an assist and game-winning goal, while Ibarra earned the award for getting a shutout against CSUN and holding No. 18 UCLA to only one goal.
This is the third time Castillo receives the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week, while Ibarra receives Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week for the first time. Ibarra’s save percentage, .871, ranks 11th in the nation while his goals-against average, .57, is 17th best in the nation.
SMU will then travel to Tulsa to face the Golden Hurricanes on Wednesday evening.
The Mustangs defeated the then-No. 17 Golden Hurricanes 3-2 last year at Westcott Field.