SMU repeats as AAC tournament champions
Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 11:06 pmFrom the AAC:
SMU Repeats as American Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Champions
No. 2 seed Mustangs prevailed 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout over No. 1 seed UCF
ORLANDO — The title came down to the final penalty kick, as SMU’s Emil Cuello converted his shot to give the Mustangs their second-consecutive American Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championship trophy on Saturday night. No. 2 seed SMU prevailed 5-4 in the round of penalty kicks in the 1-1 tie with No. 1 seed UCF.
SMU (10-4-3) has now claimed back-to-back American tournament crowns, and earns the conference’s automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship. Currently ranked No. 7 nationally, UCF (13-2-3) is also expected to make the field of 48 teams, which will be announced Monday at 1 p.m. ET.
Cuello was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player for the second-straight season, while Mustang goalkeeper Grant Makela earned Most Outstanding Defensive Player with five saves on the contest.
The Mustangs’ lone goal in regulation was registered by Christian Boorom for his first tally of the season.
Solid goalkeeping highlighted the match throughout, as UCF’s Yannik Oettl totaled six stops on the contest. Andres Hernandez scored the game’s tying goal with just 20 seconds left in regulation.
After the teams combined for just seven shots in the first half, the offenses emerged energized in the second frame with 22 total shots. Both goalkeepers were active early, but no try could find the back of the net.
The stalemate was finally broken in the 73rd minute, when SMU was awarded a free kick 30 yards out on the far side. Eddie Munjoma served in a perfect ball, and Boorom made contact on the header, finding the cage on the near post.
With time ticking down, UCF showed yet another flair for the dramatic, this time with the seconds ticking down in regulation. After Gorka Apperibay’s initial shot from a scrum in the box, Hernandez collected the loose ball rebound, firing from the left side of the box into the right corner and forcing overtime.
The teams slowed in the extra frames with just three total shots, giving way to penalty kicks. With the margin tied at two apiece, UCF sent a shot wide, and Cuello completed the fifth and final try to claim the trophy.
UCF and SMU shared the regular season title, and combined for nine of the 11 spots on the 2018 All-Tournament Team. Both teams earned their second-consecutive title game trips with double overtime victories in Thursday’s semifinals.
Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Emil Cuello, M, SMU
Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Grant Makela, GK, SMU
All-Tournament Team
Abdou Mbacke Thiam, F, UConn
Gurman Sangha, M, Memphis
Cal Jennings, F, UCF
Andres Hernandez, D, UCF
Yanis Leerman, D, UCF
Louis Perez, M, UCF
Christian Boorom, M/F, SMU
Emil Cuello, M, SMU
Akean Shackelford, F, SMU
Philip Ponder, D, SMU
Grant Makela, GK, SMU
SMU Repeats as American Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Champions
No. 2 seed Mustangs prevailed 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout over No. 1 seed UCF
ORLANDO — The title came down to the final penalty kick, as SMU’s Emil Cuello converted his shot to give the Mustangs their second-consecutive American Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championship trophy on Saturday night. No. 2 seed SMU prevailed 5-4 in the round of penalty kicks in the 1-1 tie with No. 1 seed UCF.
SMU (10-4-3) has now claimed back-to-back American tournament crowns, and earns the conference’s automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship. Currently ranked No. 7 nationally, UCF (13-2-3) is also expected to make the field of 48 teams, which will be announced Monday at 1 p.m. ET.
Cuello was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player for the second-straight season, while Mustang goalkeeper Grant Makela earned Most Outstanding Defensive Player with five saves on the contest.
The Mustangs’ lone goal in regulation was registered by Christian Boorom for his first tally of the season.
Solid goalkeeping highlighted the match throughout, as UCF’s Yannik Oettl totaled six stops on the contest. Andres Hernandez scored the game’s tying goal with just 20 seconds left in regulation.
After the teams combined for just seven shots in the first half, the offenses emerged energized in the second frame with 22 total shots. Both goalkeepers were active early, but no try could find the back of the net.
The stalemate was finally broken in the 73rd minute, when SMU was awarded a free kick 30 yards out on the far side. Eddie Munjoma served in a perfect ball, and Boorom made contact on the header, finding the cage on the near post.
With time ticking down, UCF showed yet another flair for the dramatic, this time with the seconds ticking down in regulation. After Gorka Apperibay’s initial shot from a scrum in the box, Hernandez collected the loose ball rebound, firing from the left side of the box into the right corner and forcing overtime.
The teams slowed in the extra frames with just three total shots, giving way to penalty kicks. With the margin tied at two apiece, UCF sent a shot wide, and Cuello completed the fifth and final try to claim the trophy.
UCF and SMU shared the regular season title, and combined for nine of the 11 spots on the 2018 All-Tournament Team. Both teams earned their second-consecutive title game trips with double overtime victories in Thursday’s semifinals.
Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Emil Cuello, M, SMU
Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Grant Makela, GK, SMU
All-Tournament Team
Abdou Mbacke Thiam, F, UConn
Gurman Sangha, M, Memphis
Cal Jennings, F, UCF
Andres Hernandez, D, UCF
Yanis Leerman, D, UCF
Louis Perez, M, UCF
Christian Boorom, M/F, SMU
Emil Cuello, M, SMU
Akean Shackelford, F, SMU
Philip Ponder, D, SMU
Grant Makela, GK, SMU