Men's Soccer Clinches C-USA Regular-Season Title

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Men's Soccer Clinches C-USA Regular-Season Title On Senior Night
SMU defeats Kentucky 2-0

Oct. 30, 2010

DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU men's soccer team defeated Kentucky, 2-0, on Senior Night to clinch the Conference USA regular season title Saturday night at Westcott Field. With the win, SMU moves 14-1-0 on the year and 6-1-0 in conference play.

Senior midfielder Josue Soto and freshman midfielder Zach Barnes each scored for the Mustangs.

"It was a tough one," head coach Tim McClements said. "Kentucky is a physical team, and they worked awfully hard. When we got the second goal, I felt like the main thing was to manage the game. Too often during the year, we've found a way to give up a goal in that situation - and today we didn't. That's really a testament to the players and their maturity. You can tell we're getting better every game. We did what we needed to do to win the game."

Soto netted the game-winner when he scored on a free kick from 30 yards out in the fifth minute. The goal was Soto's fifth of the year and his third game-clincher of the season.

Barnes added an insurance goal for the Mustangs when he scored less than five minutes later. Freshman forward Juan Castillo took the ball down the right side to the end line and crossed it in to Barnes, who one-timed it home. The goal was Barnes' fifth of the season. The helper was Castillo's team-leading 22nd point of the year.

Senior goalkeeper Craig Hill made five saves on the night to earn his third shutout of the season. In the 26th minute, Hill made a spectacular diving save on Kentucky's Matt Lodge to preserve the 2-0 lead.

"When we started off [the season], we set goals for ourselves," McClements said. "One was to win every game, and we came one short of that, but a good run nonetheless. The first goal after that was to win the regular season conference championship and we did that."

As regular season conference champions, the Mustangs have earned the top seed in the conference tournament and will have a bye in the first round of the tournament.

Soto, Hill, defender Leone Cruz, midfielder Kekoa Osorio and midfielder Pana Vasquez all were honored during the pre-game ceremonies for Senior Night.

"They're everything to the team," McClements said of the team's seniors. "One of the big things that we talked about a few years back was the culture of the team. They've made a huge difference in our culture, and the things that we do on a day-in and day-out basis of how I want things done. They bought in to it and we've paid the price for it. But I think we're playing good soccer now, and I think we're able to do that because we have the stability of people who are doing the right things over and over and over again - and those are our seniors. We have talented freshmen, but this team's built on the strength of our older players."

SMU heads to Miami to face FIU in the final game of the regular season at 6 p.m. Nov. 5.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Saturday night's game was awesome - and there was a great crowd too which was really nice to see.

Let's win the conference tournament and make sure we get some home NCAA tournament games!

[Harry0569]

Saturday night's game was awesome - and there was a great crowd too which was really nice to see.

Let's win the conference tournament and make sure we get some home NCAA tournament games!

Dan,

How has the typical crowd been at other games? Hopefully, people know that we are top dogs in the nation, which will translate into support for the NCAA's. I'd love to see a ruckus crowd out there.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

The official attendance in the game report was over 600 which was fantastic considering the other irrelevant sporting event in the area that night.

Plus, the crowd was somewhat animated - some of the fans even started a chant as the second half started (certainly students already in the Saturday night/Halloween mood), but still pretty cool.

It would be nice to break 1000 for a tournament game - especially with such a nice soccer venue just a short walk from thousands of students...

[Harry0569]

The official attendance in the game report was over 600 which was fantastic considering the other irrelevant sporting event in the area that night.

Plus, the crowd was somewhat animated - some of the fans even started a chant as the second half started (certainly students already in the Saturday night/Halloween mood), but still pretty cool.

It would be nice to break 1000 for a tournament game - especially with such a nice soccer venue just a short walk from thousands of students...

If SMU publicizes it, I honestly believe people will turn up for it. Jesus, if you live in the lower quad, all you have to do is walk 100 ft.

[PonyPride]

There have been crowds over 1,000 before — hopefully that level can be reached again, even if there is a game over the Thanksgiving break.

[redpony]

Let's go Ponies- crunch time is approaching.

GO PONIES!!!