Since the start of its season in August, the SMU women’s soccer team has struggled in establishing a consistent pattern of wins. Conference USA play has been no exception, as the Mustangs seem to have developed a habit of winning one weekend game and dropping the other.
In preparation for the remaining seven games left in conference play, the Mustangs called in the English sports psychologist of Sunderland, Bill Beswick, to work with the team. After traveling to Houston to watch SMU play, Beswick offered advice to the coaching staff and players about playing with such a young team, and overcoming injuries throughout the season.
“I was very impressed, as a psychologist, with their attitude, resilience, and determination,” said Beswick. “The freshmen showed a maturity beyond their years.”
“He’s helped all of us realize how much growth there’s been,” said head coach Brent Erwin. “As an outsider, he was able to come in and give some credit to the upperclassmen for what they’ve been doing with the team.”
Now, standing at 2-2-0 in the conference as they hit the road to take on Marshall (4-4-4, 2-2-0 Conference USA) on Friday and conference leader East Carolina (8-3-1, 3-0-1) on Sunday, the Mustangs are hoping this could be the weekend they break free of their even record.
Win or lose, the Mustangs’ efforts have not gone unrecognized by the coaching staff, as Erwin continues to praise his team, regardless of the final score.
“The team is playing better,” said Erwin. “We’re doing better and playing better. Sometimes you just need to keep doing the right things, and let the winning streak find you.”
In last weekend’s win over Houston, the Mustangs overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit to capture the road win. And while losing three players within two weeks was not part of the plan, it has not hindered the Mustangs’ overall performance.
Losing junior midfielder Jennifer Raad and senior forward Caitlin Carter to a broken leg the weekend before, the team refuses to let the loss of their teammates crush their spirits.
“It’s easy, mentally, to deteriorate,” explained Beswick. “I think it can be handled, and I think the girls can come back from it. Every team has a bad phase during the season, you just have to have yours first. [The team has] all the time left to get everything done in [their] season. Nothing has been lost.”
Friday night’s match up against Marshall presents the Mustangs with the opportunity to play one of the more well rounded teams in the conference. The Thundering Herd ranks second in the conference in shots, averaging 16 shots per game, and third with 5.17 points. SMU ranks 11th with just 11 shots per game and ninth at just 2.75 points per game.
The conference rivals did not meet in the 2007 season, but SMU did shutout the Herd in 2006 and 2005.
As for the game between the Mustangs and Pirates, the final score will likely depend on the performances of SMU freshman goalkeeper Courtney Webb and ECU goalie Amber Campbell.
The Pirates lead Conference USA with six shutouts, while Webb averages the highest save percentage with an 88 percent save rate.
ECU forward/midfielder Alexis Foltz leads her team in scoring, and ranks second in C-USA in points per game. However, SMU freshman forward, Logan May, continues to occupy the first slot in shots per game at 3.75.
“Women bond to battle. Men battle to bond,” explained Beswick. “I don’t think because they are mature as a team yet. It will take a little while, and they may be getting there right now. It will take little bit while to find themselves as a team.”
The Mustangs will return to Dallas on Oct. 17 to host the Memphis Tigers, followed by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers on Oct. 19.
