The Mustangs are now 2-2-2 in Conference USA after defeating the University of Central Florida [UCF] Knights Sunday afternoon.

The two goals of the victory came from sophomores Olivia Elliot and Rikke Clarke.

Elliot’s score came early in the 17th minute from a rebound inside the box.

The rest of the first half saw no more goals from either team as possession was equally shared.

Clarke gave the Mustangs its second goal in the 54th minute off an assist from sophomore Shelby Redman.

Redman leads the team in assists. Her feed to Clarke was her 18th of the season and the goal was Clarke’s third of the season.

Senior Mallory Baum also posted two assists in the game.
A big effort came from the defensive end of the team as well. Goalkeeper Lauryn Bodden hit her career-high with seven saves in the game.

“Overall, defensively we were able to hold them out,” head coach Chris Petrucelli told SMU Athletics. “The whole team did a good job of keeping them out, not just Lauryn [Bodden]. We settled in and didn’t let them past us.”

UCF brought pressure in the second half and was able to get past Bodden in the 81st minute and get on the scoreboard to reduce SMU’s lead to 2-1.

Bodden’s biggest save came with nine seconds left on the clock on a UCF corner kick.

The team’s record is 6-6-2 for the season after tough overtime losses to now No. 10 San Diego State and No. 25 Baylor.

Despite those early losses, the recent victory over No. 8 UCF, the team that the Mustangs also defeated last season when the Knights were ranked 19th, has the Mustangs feeling confident.

“I think all along we felt we were capable of winning a lot of games,” Petrucelli told SMU Athletics. “Hopefully this propels us forward.”

The confident Mustangs will face East Carolina Friday at 6 p.m. in Greenville, N. C.

SMU and ECU went into overtime last season at Westcott field and ECU came out winning 1-0.