The SMU men’s soccer team is back on top this week taking the No. 1 spot in all four national college polls. Senior goalkeeper Matt Wideman was awarded his fourth consecutive C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honor and senior defender Mynor Gonzalez was named to the College Soccer News.com National Team of the Week. Top Drawer Soccer.com recognized Jay Needham’s efforts by naming him the National Player of the Week.
The Mustangs begin conference play tonight in Miami against Florida International University. SMU is 10-0-1 in the season and has won three of its last four games on the road. (SMU tied New Mexico at the TLC Plumbing & Utility Invite).
The Golden Panthers are 4-3-2 so far this season and have won four of their last five games. In addition to Friday nights’ game, FIU will hold a ceremony recognizing the members of the 1996 FIU team that made it to the NCAA Championship.
“It will be really nice to see the guys again,” said Kremser about his players from the 1996 team. “That was one of my most enjoyable years as a coach, not only because of the success, but also the camaraderie. Those guys epitomized ‘teamwork’ and ‘getting along’. Together with the SMU match, it is going to be a really special night,” FIU’s head coach said in a press release on FIUSports.com.
SMU is on its way to breaking numerous school records with its current season. Head Coach Schellas Hyndman is three wins away from breaking the current record of 350 wins. The Mustangs have posted eight shutout victories so far, only six shy of the school record of 14, set in 2001. A win over FIU would put this SMU team one step closer to the record books.
The men’s soccer team returns to Dallas next Saturday to face Kentucky at Westcott Field at 7 p.m.