[RV] SMU (4-1-0)
[RV] Loyola University Maryland (3-1-1) | Friday at 7 p.m. CT
Brown (3-0-0) | Sunday at 6:30 p.m. CT
Live Stats
Westcott Field | Dallas, Texas
Tickets | Free Admission

Video | PonyUp TV (Fri.) | PonyUp TV (Sun.)
SMU Notes | Loyola University Maryland Notes | Brown Notes
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After its first road trip of the season, the [RV] SMU men’s soccer team return home for a pair of matches against Loyola University Maryland and Brown. The Mustangs open with the Greyhounds Friday at 7 p.m. before facing the Bears Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

All home games are free admission and can be followed via PonyUp TV or live stats on SMUMustangs.com

QUICK KICKS
- Head Coach Kevin Hudson has a 25-13-5 (.639) record on the Hilltop.
- SMU went 1-1 last week falling 3-1 to then-No. 1 Stanford before recording a 1-0 victory at Santa Clara.
- The Mustangs are receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches’ Poll.
- SMU leads the American Athletic Conference in points (6.40), goals (2.00) and assists (2.40) per game.
- Mauro Cichero leads the conference in points (11), goals (four) and assists (three).
- Cichero has 19 career goals, including eight game winners.
- Garrett McLaughlin and Philip Ponder were named to The American Honor Roll (9/11).
- McLauglin has seven career goals in 21 games, including three in 2017, two of which were game-winners.
- Ponder’s game-winning goal against Santa Clara was his first career goal.
- Five Mustangs have scored this year: Cichero (four), McLaughlin (three), Ponder (one), Christian Boorom (one), Garrett Welch (one).
- Cichero was joined by Jordan Cano, McLaughlin and Michael Nelson on the preseason all-conference team.
- Cichero earned preseason Top Drawer Soccer Best XI honor.
- Nelson was named The American preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
- Cichero was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List and Top Drawer Soccer Best XI.
- McLaughlin was the 2016 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year.
- Cano and Cichero were named all-conference second team last year.

LAST TIME OUT – PONDER’S LATE GOAL LIFTS SMU PAST SANTA CLARA, 1-0 (Sept. 10 , 2017)
Philip Ponder first career goal couldn't have come at a better time as he scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute to give SMU a 1-0 victory against Santa Clara at Stevens Stadium. With the win, SMU improved to 4-1-0 on the season, while Santa Clara fell to 0-5-0. It was the Mustangs first win against the Broncos since 1994 and just their second win in the series. MAC Hermann Trophy candidate Mauro Cichero headed a corner kick to Garret McLaughlin on the left side of the post, who found Ponder inside the box for the score. It was McLaughlin's first assist of the season.

ABOUT SMU (THE AMERICAN)
SMU is led by head coach Kevin Hudson, who has 21 letterwinners returning, including eight starters from last season. The Mustangs were selected to finish fifth in the preseason poll of The American, a league that sent two teams (Tulsa, USF) to the 2016 NCAA Tournament. SMU (4-1-0) is the only team in The American with four wins and is currently receiving votes in the United Coaches’ Poll. The Mustangs won their season opener against UC Davis (3-2), followed by two wins against Oakland (2-1) and Cornell (3-0) to claim the SMU Tournament title. Last week, the Mustangs went 1-1 in California with a 3-1 loss to then-No. 1 Stanford, before a 1-0 victory against Santa Clara. The Mustangs lead the American Athletic Conference in points (6.40), goals (2.00) and assists (2.40) per game. SMU went 6-9-1 overall and 2-4-1 in conference play in 2016.

ABOUT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MARYLAND (PATRIOT LEAGUE)
Loyola University Maryland is receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches’ Poll and was picked to win the Patriot League. The Greyhounds are 3-1-1 after a 1-0 win against Villanova last week. The Greyhounds are led by Brian Saramago and Barry Sharifi, who were selected as the preseason Patriot League offensive and midfield players of the year. Gabriel Carlsson and Sharifi lead the Greyhounds with four points each. Carlsson is the only Greyhound with multiple assists (four) this season, while Sharifi is the only player with multiple goals (two). Loyola returns 14 letterwinners and eight starters from last year’s team that turned the program into a contender in the Patriot League. After a winless 2015 in League play, Loyola posted a 6-1-2 record last year to finish runner-up in the Patriot League, the biggest turnaround in league history.

SMU-LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MARYLAND SERIES HISTORY
SMU and Loyola University Maryland will meet for the first time Friday.


ABOUT BROWN (IVY LEAGUE)
Brown (3-0-0) has started the season undefeated with wins against Bryant (1-0), Quinnipiac (2-0) and Holy Cross (2-1). The Bears return two-time First Team All-Ivy selection Jack Hagstrom, who was a key contributor to the defensive unit that ranked third in the league in goals against average (1.20). Brown also returns Matthew Chow, who paced the Bears with 13 points (six goals, one assist) last season, while Nico Lozada finished second with 10 points. The Bears opened the season with back-to-back shutouts and has scored five goals this season. Toby Howell was named the Ivy League Player of the Week on Sept. 11 after registering three points in a pair of wins last weekend. He notched his first goal as a Bear against Holy Cross on Sunday, before adding an assist in the team's 2-0 win over Quinnipiac on Friday. Brown went 8-8-1 overall and 3-3-1 in the Ivy League last season, finishing fourth in the league standings.

SMU-BROWN SERIES HISTORY
SMU and Brown will meet for the fourth time, with the Bears holding a 2-1 lead in the series. The Mustangs won the first match on Sept. 9, 2006 (5-1), but have lost the last two, including a 2-0 road loss last season (Sept. 11, 2016).

LAST TIME AGAINST BROWN (L, 2-0 at Brown on Sept. 11, 2016):
The SMU men's soccer team lost to the Brown Bears 2-0 in Providence, R.I. SMU held Brown to a scoreless first half but the Bears retaliated with a strong second period. Tyler Long found the back of the net off the cross from Nate Pomeroy in transition in the 49th minute of the match. Pomeroy followed up with a goal of his own in the 72nd minute of play, sneaking one past Michael Nelson in transition. The goal was unassisted. Mauro Cichero led all Mustangs with three shots. SMU took a total of 10 shots, with Jared Rice recording the only shot on goal. Michael Nelson tallied six saves on Brown's 14 shots with eight on goal.

Brown 1-2-0
H: 1-0, A: 0-2, N: 0-0

(-) Ranking
$ SMU Classic (Dallas, Texas)
@ Brown Classic (Providence, R.I.)

MCLAUGHLIN AND PONDER WERE NAMED TO THE AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONOR ROLL (Sept. 11, 2017)
Garrett McLaughlin registered three points on a goal and an assist on the road in a 1-1 week for the Mustangs. He picked up his third goal of the season against then-No. 1 Stanford, which was the first goal the Cardinal had given up this season. McLaughlin was credited with an assist in the Mustangs 1-0 victory against Santa Clara. Ponder was the recipient of McLauglin’s assist as he scored the game-winning goal against the Broncos and led SMU backline to a 1-0 shutout win.

MCLAUGHLIN NAMED AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Sept. 4, 2017)
Garrett McLaughlin was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week. McLaughlin netted two goals on four shots (four points) to earn his first weekly player of the week honor and be named to the SMU Tournament All-Tournament team.

CICHERO NAMED AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Aug. 28, 2017)
Mauro Cichero was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week. The senior forward recorded his first career hat trick in a 3-2 victory against UC Davis in the season opener on Friday. The MAC Hermann Trophy candidate scored two goals late to rally the Mustangs and now has 18 career goals, including seven game winners. He leads the conference in points (six) and goals (three). Cichero won the league's first weekly honor, giving him four for his career. In 2015, he was named player of the week three times helping lead SMU to conference regular season title and was also named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

HUDDY’S HOME
Going into his third year at the helm, head coach Kevin Hudson has compiled a 25-13-5 (.639) record, including a 19-8-1 (.696) record at Westcott Field. During Hudson's nine years on the Hilltop, the Mustangs have reached the NCAA Tournament on five occasions, advancing as far as the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2010. In 2010 and 2012, SMU earned the Conference USA regular season title, and in 2011 the squad won the tournament championship. In his first year as head coach, Hudson's team claimed the 2015 American Athletic Conference regular season title and advanced to the NCAA Round of 16. Hudson and his coaching staff were named the 2015 AAC Coaching Staff of the Year. The Mustangs have amassed a 107-64-23 (.610) record during Hudson's tenure.

THERE’S (MAUR-O) WHERE THAT CAME FROM
Mauro Cichero has garnered several preseason accolades heading into the 2017 season. Cichero has been named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, the TopDrawerSoccer.com Best XI second team and the preseason all-conference team. The Norman, Oklahoma native earned second team all-conference honors last season after playing in 15 games for the Mustangs, scoring three goals on 44 shots with one assist. As a sophomore, Cichero helped lead the Mustangs to a 15-3-4 record, a conference regular season title and to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2015. The senior forward was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Year and a unanimous First-Team All-Conference selection. Cichero finished his second season on the Hilltop ranked first on the team in goals (10), points (29) and shots (71), and second in assists (9). On the Hilltop, Cichero has started 57 matches and has tallied 19 goals, including eight game winners, and 17 assists. Cichero leads the conference in points (11), goals (four) and assists (three). He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the SMU Tournament.

THE KEEPER
A season after starting 15 matches for the Mustangs, senior Michael Nelson returns as the starting keeper. For the third consecutive season, Nelson has been named the 2017 American Athletic Conference Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. The two-time conference Goalkeeper of the Year (2014, 2015) recorded 55 saves, three shutouts last season, while posting a 1.16 goals against average to go with a .764 save percentage. Nelson has amassed 19 career shutouts on the Hilltop, including two this year against Cornell (3-0) and Santa Clara (1-0).

G-MAC
Garrett McLaughlin returns for his sophomore campaign on the Hilltop after being named the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year last season. McLaughlin played in all 16 games and started seven for the Mustangs. The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, native, led the team with 11 points off a team-high four goals, including a goal against then-No. 16 Akron in an eventual, 4-3, Mustang victory in overtime and the game-tying goal against Connecticut. McLaughlin was also credited with three assists and finished second on the team in shots on goal with 12. He was also named to the conference Weekly Honor Roll for the week of Oct. 17. McLaughlin earned his second career conference weekly honor after netting two goals on four shots in wins against Oakland and Cornell. He was also named to the SMU Tournament All-Tournament team. McLaughlin was named to the conference honor roll this week after recording three points on a goal and an assist on the road in a 1-1 week for the Mustangs.

THE JORDAN STOPPER
Senior Jordan Cano is the most experienced defender on the Mustangs’ roster and has been named to the all-conference second team the past two years. Last season, he scored in back-to-back matches against Memphis and Cincinnati, earning four total points. Cano has been consistent and reliable in the backline for the Mustangs playing in 37 games with 36 starts the last two years. The Frisco, Texas, native was also named to the All-Rookie team in 2014. 

EDDIE-NATIONAL
Defender Eddie Munjoma was named to the U.S. Under-19 Men's National Team domestic training camp roster. Munjoma was one of 22 players called to attend the eight-day camp from February 3-10 in Sunrise, Florida. As a freshman last season, Munjoma started 12 of 13 games for SMU and played 1,149 minutes on the pitch. He tallied four points on four assists, including three assists against then-No.16 Akron helping the Mustangs beat the Zips 4-3 in overtime.

2017 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PRESEASON HONORS
Four Mustangs were named to the preseason All-American Athletic Conference team, the league announced. 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 McLaughlin and Michael Nelson, who all made the preseason all-conference team.

2016 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONORS
Forward Garrett McLaughlin was named American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, while defender Jordan Cano and midfielder Mauro Cichero were named to The American All-Conference second team.

Rookie of the Year: Garrett McLaughlin
Second Team: Jordan Cano and Mauro Cichero

2017 MEN’S SOCCER WATCH LISTS/PRESEASON HONORS

JORDAN CANO
All-American Athletic Conference

MAURO CICHERO
MAC Hermann Trophy
Top Drawer Soccer Best XI
All-American Athletic Conference

GARRETT MCLAUGHLIN
All-American Athletic Conference

MICHAEL NELSON
American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Year
All-American Athletic Conference

2017 MEN’S SOCCER SEASON HONORS/AWARDS

JORDAN CANO
SMU Tournament All-Tournament Team

MAURO CICHERO
SMU Tournament Most Outstanding Player (MOP)
American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week (Aug. 28, 2017)

GARRETT MCLAUGHLIN
SMU Tournament All-Tournament Team
American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 4, 2017)

MICHAEL NELSON
SMU Tournament All-Tournament Team

CALEB SMITH
SMU Tournament All-Tournament Team

NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
The Mustangs return 21 letterwinners, including eight starters from last season, while adding 11 newcomers to the roster. The 2017 recruiting class consists of Joshua Berney, Ryan Capo, Matteo DeFina, Nicky Hernandez, Noah Hilt, Talen Maples, Dakota Okwuone, Luke Thompson, Austin Vincent, Patrick Wintergalen and graduate transfer Tyler Long.

MEN’S SOCCER HIGH SCHOOL COACHES DAY (Aug. 19, 2017)
SMU men's soccer head coach Kevin Hudson and staff hosted a coaches day Saturday, Aug. 19 at Westcott Field, which was open to high school coaches. The event provided insight to the day-to-day operations of the program, while also giving coaches an inside look at the preparation that takes place before matches.

WESTCOTT FIELD
One of the most popular soccer venues in the country, Westcott Field, is the home turf for both the SMU men's and women's soccer teams. Both teams began competing at Westcott Field in 1994. The grass facility was used as a training site for the Dallas venue of World Cup USA '94. Teams from Germany, Bulgaria, Sweden and Holland practiced there before their games at the Cotton Bowl. Within more recent years, Westcott Field has climbed the charts as one of the nation's exciting soccer stadiums. In 2001, Westcott Field ranked among the highest attended facilities during the SMU men's team No. 1 reign for 14 weeks, as well as the women's team march to the Western Athletic Conference Title. In 2004, the Mustangs added a press box to the stadium featuring attractive lettering and the Mustangs' past champions. Before the 2006 season, SMU installed a new turf and a state-of-the art drainage system.

FREE SOCCER
Adding to its menu of free, family-friendly events, SMU Athletics will now offer free admission to all Mustang soccer matches beginning this fall. The soccer programs are among 11 SMU sports that offer free admission. Others include volleyball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's golf, rowing and equestrian. SMU will host a combined 22 matches at Westcott Field, 12 women's games and 10 men's games.

SMU ATHLETICS, SOCCER PROGRAMS TO SEE FACE LIFT
SMU recently announced plans to construct a new Indoor Performance Center, an outdoor natural grass football practice field and a new soccer stadium, another sign of the University's commitment to competing at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. These plans come on the heels of amazing success during SMU's Second Century Campaign, when SMU Athletics secured more than $191 million in gift commitments, and after 18 months of careful planning and design. The new soccer stadium, to be used by SMU's men's and women's soccer teams, will be located on Mockingbird Lane, the site of the current practice fields.

UP NEXT
SMU heads to Oklahoma to open conference play at No. 20 Tulsa on Sunday, Sept. 24. The match is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on the American Digital Network.

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.

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