Soccer

[ClassOf81]

After reading the post from PerunaPunch on the football board about all the ticket packages, it got me thinking that the packages should include tickets to soccer, as well, since it's SMU's best sport and Dallas is so soccer-friendly.

Speaking of the soccer teams, does anyone have a feel for how good the teams will be this year?

[MrMustang1965]

I saw a news item today (8/21/02) in the Houston Chronicle that the SMU soccer team is ranked #1 in the nation! WAY TO GO, MUSTANGS!

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"Winning ain't everything...but it's a lot more fun than the alternative!"

[PonyGirl]

Actually, the NSCAA poll (the only legitimate poll, since it's voted on by coaches) has the SMU women ranked 24th, and the men's poll hasn't been released yet. And with the men losing Luchi Gonzalez, Carl Bussey, Mishu Fahim, Byron Foss, etc., from last year's team, there's no way we'll get voted #1. But we still have a really good team. Maybe teams will take us lightly and we can sneak up on people this year.

Here's a promise: Both SMU teams will be in the NCAA tournament this year!

[PonyGirl]

The first NSCAA poll is now out. SMU is #8, which is great, considering the players we lost. And despite the rankings (and last year's season-ending loss to St. John's), we're better than St. John's and North Carolina.

1. Indiana
2. Stanford
3. St. John's
4. North Carolina
5. Virginia
6. Connecticut
7. Rutgers
8. SMU
9. Clemson
10. Maryland
11. Saint Louis
12. Washington
13. UCLA
14. Fairleigh Dickinson
15. UAB
16. South Carolina
17. Penn State
18. Boston College
19. Creighton
20. Kentucky
21. Furman
22. Loyola (Md.)
23. Syracuse
24. San Diego
25. Wake Forest

[PonyPride]

It was last season that SMU spent most of the year atop the national rankings. But #8 is still really good.

And check out the story that's linked on the home page. SMU head coach Schellas Hyndman calls Diego Walsh the premier player in the country, and he's right. Walsh might have been the best player in the country last year, but he gave way for the spotlight to fall on the seniors. He should win every award he's eligible for this year. He's that good.