August 15, 2017

American Athletic Conference Release | Preseason Men's Soccer Awards/Poll (PDF)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (SMU/The American) – Four Mustangs were named to the preseason All-American Athletic Conference team, the league announced Tuesday. SMU was picked to finish fifth in the conference, receiving one of the eight first place votes by the league's coaches.

The Mustangs return eight starters from last season, including Jordan Cano, Mauro Cichero, Garrett McLaughlinand Michael Nelson, who all made the preseason all-conference team.

Cano and Cichero both garnered second team all-conference honors a year ago. Cano played in all 16 games and scored in back-to-back matches against Memphis and Cincinnati, earning four total points. Cichero, who was also named to the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, netted three goals and led the Mustangs with 17 shots on goal. As a sophomore, Cichero led the team in goals (10) and was named the 2015 AAC Offensive Player of the Year.

McLaughlin, the 2016 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, led the squad with an 11 points off a team-high four goals in his first season on the Hilltop. The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, native was also credited with three assists and finished second on the team in shots on goal with 12.

For the third consecutive season, Nelson has been named the league's preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. The Katy, Texas, native played in 15 matches last season and recorded a team-high 55 saves and three shutouts. He has twice been named the American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Year (2014, 2015).

SMU opens the season Aug. 25 against UC Davis at 7 p.m. at Westcott Field.

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Mustangs by following the SMU Men's Soccer Team on Twitter at @SMUSoccerM, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SMUSoccerM, and on Instagram at Instagram.com/SMU_MSOC. Follow SMU Athletics on Twitter at @SMUMustangs or Instagram at SMU.Mustangs.

2017 American Athletic Conference
Preseason Men's Soccer Awards/Poll
 

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Matias Pyysalo, UCF Preseason

Defensive Player of the Year
Patrick Nielsen, Cincinnati

Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Michael Nelson, SMU*

Preseason All-Conference Team
GK – Michael Nelson, SMU*
B – Patrick Nielsen, Cincinnati*
B – Jacob Hauser-Ramsey, UConn
B – Dylan Greenberg, UConn
B – Jordan Cano, SMU
B – Zack Stavrou, Tulsa
M – Matias Pyysalo, UCF
M – Jackson Morse, Memphis
M – Ricardo Gomez, USF
M – Mauro Cichero, SMU*
F – Abdou Mbacke Thiam, UConn*
F – Garrett McLaughlin, SMU
F – Joonas Jokinen, Temple
F – Juan Sanchez, Tulsa*

[*] Denotes unanimous selection
Ties are not broken

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