DALLAS (SMU) – Senior Damian Rosales scored a pair of goals to help lead the third-seeded SMU men’s soccer team over the No. 6 seed UCF, 4-0, on Friday evening at Westcott Field. The win put the Mustangs in double figures for the season improving the team to 10-5-2, while UCF finished the 2014 season with a 2-10-6 record.

SMU moves on to face the No. 2-seed, Tulsa, at 4:30 p.m. CT on Friday in Storrs, Connecticut, for the American Athletic Conference semifinals. The Mustangs are 1-1 against Tulsa in 2014.

“We obviously got on the board first and early, and just through the run of play we were able to put in the third and fourth in the first half,” Head Coach Tim McClements said. “It changed the game and us going into half knowing we were up, 4-0, it was important that we protect the lead.”

The Mustangs wasted no time getting the game winner in the match, as junior Idrissa Camara brought the ball down the center of the field off the opening touch and was fouled inside the UCF 18-yard box to set up a penalty kick just 10 seconds in. Fellow junior John Lujano was called to the spot for the fourth time this season and converted with a shot to the lower right corner for the goal. Lujano also scored the tying goal on a penalty kick in the team’s first meeting this season and is a perfect four-for-four during the current campaign.

Rosales got on the board next for the Mustangs with markers in the 10th and 33rd minutes. Assists on both goals were credited to sophomore Stanton Garcia, with senior Andrew Morales adding a touch as well on the second goal.

The final tally of the game was redshirt-freshman Anthony Jeffries second of the season, as he connected with freshman Jared Rice on a header off a corner kick in the 45th minute. Rice now has a team-high eight assists this season.

Despite the score, the teams were even in shots with 11 apiece; however the Mustangs had more quality chances with seven shots on goal to the Knights’ four. Lujano, Rosales and Garcia each had a pair for SMU.

“UCF’s a very good team and we played down at their place and tied, 1-1, in a very close game and felt like we were in for a battle,” McClements said. “I think that the score’s not very indicative of how they are, I think they’re a very good team, sometimes you just get on a roll and the ball ends up going where you want it to go.”

Goalkeeper Michael Nelson picked up his fifth shutout of the season as he registered four saves, and improved his goals-against-average to 0.92.

The Mustangs improved to 9-1-1 at home this season with a 0.62 GAA.

The win was also the 150th career victory for McClements, with 68 of those coming at SMU.

“There are things that we can work on, but we know what our strengths are now and what our weaknesses are. We continue to work on those and we’re looking forward to our next game,” McClements added.

Friday’s semifinal match will be broadcast on The American Digital Network. Follow the Mustangs on Twitter (@SMUSoccerM) for live in-game updates.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Girls N. Atlantic Players to Watch

Women's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

Hornets Add 7 on National Signing Day