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Men's soccer wins in 2OT, headed to AAC final

PostPosted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 1:11 am
by PonyPride
From SMUMustangs.com:

Terwege's Golden Goal Sends Mustangs Into AAC Final

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ORLANDO, Fla. (SMU) – No. 10 SMU advanced to the AAC Championship Final when they defeated the 3-seeded USF Bulls, 2-1, in double overtime on Wednesday night.

It'll be the third straight AAC final that the Mustangs (15-1-1, 5-1-1) have played in, winning the tournament the previous two seasons.

The Mustangs got the scoring started in the 15th minute when Nicky Hernandez took a shot off a rebound from the top of the box. The ball traveled across the box, through traffic, and beat the USF keeper on the far post to put SMU up 1-0 in the semifinal.

The Mustangs then held off multiple USF attacks over the next 30 minutes as the Bulls (10-6-1, 4-3-0) pressed higher in search of an equalizer. SMU goalkeeper Grant Makela was at his best on Wednesday night, making two great saves in the first half to keep the Bulls off the board – preserving a 1-0 SMU lead heading into the break.

The second half would be a different story as things began to open up for the Mustangs, as they sent counter after counter into the attacking third. Despite all their good chances, the Mustangs couldn't put it in the back of the net, maintaining a 1-0 lead late into the second half.

With their conference championship hopes on the line, USF would strike in the 77th minute when they drew a penalty after a challenge in the box. Adrian Billhardt would step in to take the USF penalty and he was able to equalize the game with just under 15 minutes left in regulation.

A few minutes after the USF equalizer the Mustangs would draw a penalty of their own after Garrett McLaughlin was tackled in the box, preventing a scoring chance. Gabriel Costa would take the penalty with a chance to collect his third game-winner of the season, but sent the shot just right of the post, leaving the score at an even, 1-1.

90 minutes wouldn't be enough to separate the two sides and so the Mustangs would have to find a winner in OT for the third time this season if they wanted a shot at a three-peat.

The Mustangs controlled possession in the first overtime, and nearly finished the game in the 92nd minute, but an SMU shot was saved by the USF keeper. Without a game-winner in the first 10-minute OT period the two teams would head to a second overtime period to determine a winner.

The winning moment came in the 106th minute when SMU earned its seventh corner of the night. Knut Ahlander took the corner, whipping it to the far post where the ball found Garrett McLaughlin's chest and then Brandon Terwege's foot, who buried the game-winner to send the Mustangs to the AAC Tournament Final for the third straight year.

SMU will take on the No. 1 seed, UCF, on Saturday night in the AAC final, marking the third straight year that the two programs have squared off for the title. The winner receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Re: Men's soccer wins in 2OT, headed to AAC final

PostPosted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 12:01 pm
by DanFreibergerForHeisman
That's great

Re: Men's soccer wins in 2OT, headed to AAC final

PostPosted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 12:17 pm
by AusTxPony
Let's get the three-peat!

Re: Men's soccer wins in 2OT, headed to AAC final

PostPosted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 2:12 pm
by HarvCrimYaleBlue
Saturday at 6pm we play UCF. Yesterday they smoked Temple 5-0.

Beat UCF in pk’s last year and in overtime the year prior.

Cheers to a 3rd victory over them!

Re: Men's soccer wins in 2OT, headed to AAC final

PostPosted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 7:38 am
by Charleston Pony
Our guys should make the NCAA Tourney regardless, but sure would be nice to get that 3-peat and it is the time of year when you have to just refuse to lose

Re: Men's soccer wins in 2OT, headed to AAC final

PostPosted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 8:28 am
by PonySnob
Charleston Pony wrote:Our guys should make the NCAA Tourney regardless, but sure would be nice to get that 3-peat and it is the time of year when you have to just refuse to lose


Would be nice to get a first round bye and a home game or two.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Re: Men's soccer wins in 2OT, headed to AAC final

PostPosted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 9:11 am
by DanFreibergerForHeisman
We should get a bye and a home game either way.

Central Florida is 3 in the RPI and we are 9.

Re: Men's soccer wins in 2OT, headed to AAC final

PostPosted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 1:09 pm
by Terry Webster
I have a feeling it will be like other years. Even if we win we will have a road game first round and ucf will get a bye and a home game. It is how the NCAA works.

Re: Men's soccer wins in 2OT, headed to AAC final

PostPosted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 1:50 pm
by Sewanee Stang
I think we will get a decent seed. We have a good record and some solid wins.

Re: Men's soccer wins in 2OT, headed to AAC final

PostPosted: Sat Nov 16, 2019 8:04 pm
by DanFreibergerForHeisman
Ponies up 1-0 at the half

Re: Men's soccer wins in 2OT, headed to AAC final

PostPosted: Sat Nov 16, 2019 8:58 pm
by DanFreibergerForHeisman
SMU beats Central Florida 1-0!!!

Conference champions!!

Re: Men's soccer wins in 2OT, headed to AAC final

PostPosted: Sun Nov 17, 2019 10:12 am
by DanFreibergerForHeisman
Tournament selection show is Monday at noon.