Ivo's hat trick pushes men's soccer into C-USA semifinals

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Ivo's Hat Trick Powers SMU Past Marshall, 4-3
SMU faces South Carolina in C-USA semifinals Friday at 5 p.m.

Nov. 9, 2011

TULSA, Okla. (SMU) - Senior Arthur Ivo scored his first career hat trick as the SMU men's soccer team defeated Marshall, 4-3, Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Championship at Hurricane Stadium. With the win, the Mustangs are now 11-6-1 on the season.

"Really, it comes down to Marshall; they really did a great job against us," head coach Tim McClements said. "They're very disruptive and they fight so hard. When they got the goal, we thought we were playing very well in the first half. We score a nice goal, then we concede. Then we come back out in the second half and give up another goal. Credit to Marshall, they kept battling all the way through. We were very fortunate that we were able to get the equalizer, and then after that we kind of got on a roll. But just like they always do, they battled back and they're right in it all the way to the end. It was very difficult for us. You think when you score four goals you'd be able to rest some players, but it was a nail-biter the whole time."

Ivo put the Mustangs on the board with his goal in the 14th minute. Redshirt freshman Tyler Engel made a strong run down the right side, through the Marshall defenders, and crossed the ball in front of the net to Ivo who one-timed it home from about 10 yards out.

Marshall responded with a goal in the 18th minute. SMU goalkeeper Jaime Ibarra made the initial save but was unable to control the rebound as Marshall's Tom Jackson found the back of the net to even the score at one.

The Herd took a 2-1 advantage in the 56th minute when Matt Risher sent a cross from the right side that hit the inside of the far post and bounced in.

Engel scored a goal of his own in the 62nd minute. He received a ball out of the back from sophomore Zach Barnes, ran onto it, slipped around the Marshall keeper and put the ball into the net. The goal was his third of the season

Ivo put the Mustangs back on top when he converted a penalty kick in the 69th minute. SMU was awarded the kick after junior Ben Hill was taken down in the box.

Ivo completed his hat trick in the 76th minute. Barnes earned his second assist of the night after he passed a ball from midfield to sophomore Robbie Derschang who made a run up the right flank. Derschang crossed the ball to Ivo who tapped the ball in from five yards out. Ivo now has a team-high nine goals on the season. He also leads the team with four game-winning goals.

"He's just a different class," McClements said of Ivo. "Without a doubt he's the most talented player I've ever coached. When he's on, he's as good as there is. Tonight was the night to do it."

Marshall's Risher tallied his second goal of the game in the 79th minute when he collected a rebound and punched it home, but it was not enough as the Mustangs were able to hold off the Herd for the win.

SMU advances to the Conference USA semifinals and will face No. 1 seed South Carolina on Friday at 5 p.m.

[smusic 00]

Great job!

[2ndandlong]

Very impressive!

Go ponies!

[Ikus]

Really wish Ivo wasn't graduating this year.

Beat South Carolina!

[Mustangsabu]

Best of luck today, lads!