SMU Blanks Cornell, 3-0; Wins SMU Tournament

September 7, 2017

DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU men's soccer team scored twice in the first five minutes of the second half to put away Cornell, 3-0, Sunday night at Westcott Field. Combined with the victory Friday against Oakland, the Mustangs won the SMU Tournament.

With the win, SMU extends its win streak to three (3-0), while Cornell fell to 0-1-1.

Mac Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree Mauro Cichero gave SMU a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute, putting away a cross from Nicky Hernandez. Following a clear from SMU's defensive third, Hernandez collected the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and carried it just shy of the end line. In pressure, Hernandez split of pair of Cornell defenders and found a wide-open Cichero in the center of the penalty box, who buried a left-footed shot from 7 yards out. The goal is Cichero's fourth of the season, 17th of his career.

Following halftime, the Mustangs needed just 4 minutes, 57 seconds to jump to a 3-0 advantage.

In the 48th minute (47:19), Garrett McLaughlin scored SMU's second goal of the night, and his second of the season. From 45 yards, Eddie Munjoma curled a cross into the 18-yard box, where an open McLaughlin beat the Cornell backline and fired a shot past a diving Ryan Shellow from the nearside corner of the six-yard box.

Two minutes and 38 seconds later (50' (49:57)), Garrett Welch netted his first career goal to give SMU its third and final tally. From 25 yards out, Jared Rice sent a free kick to the back corner of the six-yard box, where Jordan Canoflicked the serve with his head. A crashing Welch beat the Big Red defense and netted a header from 3 yards out.

SMU had 10 different players record shots, with McLaughlin, Hernandez and Emil Cuello leading the team with two apiece. The Mustangs recorded 13 total shots, with four on goal, while defensively allowing nine shots with only one on frame.

Up next, SMU heads to California for its first road trip of the 2017 campaign. The Mustangs open with No. 1 Stanford Thursday at 10 p.m. CT/8 p.m. PT (Pac-12 Network), before playing at Santa Clara Saturday at 9 p.m. CT/7 p.m. PT.

--SMUMustangs.com--