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VIDEO: Kevin Hudson, Philip Ponder, Eddie Munjoma after UCF

PostPosted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 4:14 am
by PonyPride
VIDEO: SMU men's soccer head coach Kevin Hudson, midfielder Eddie Munjoma and defender Philip Ponder met the media after Munjoma scored 18 seconds into overtime to lift the Mustangs to 2-1 victory over UCF in the Round of 16 of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. SMU advances to face top-seeded Virginia in the Round of 8 next weekend.



From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Knock Off UCF In OT, Advance To Elite Eight

DALLAS (SMU) — Eddie Munjoma's 91st minute golden-goal sent the Mustangs to the Elite Eight by defeating UCF 2-1 in OT on Saturday night in Dallas.

It's SMU's (18-1-1) 11th Elite Eight berth in program history, and first since 2010. The Mustangs are the No. 8 national seed and after tonight's match are the last remaining team from The American standing.

"It was an excellent game. I'm unbelievably proud of our effort." Kevin Hudson said post game. "It was exciting and we created some good chances, I thought we also defended really well at times. In the end we knew there could be a magical moment and it took just one chance…a little turnover to start overtime, a couple of passes, Noah (Hilt) played it behind and Eddie (Munjoma) ran on – the rest is a blur."

Saturday's match featured two of the best teams in the country, and it lived up to expectations, mimicking a prize fight, with teams trading blow after blow. The first punch was landed in the 25th minute of the match.

On a counter attack, UCF played the ball wide to Glademir Mendoza, who drew SMU goalkeeper Grant Makela toward him, before crossing it into a cutting Cal Jennings who tapped in the game's first goal, putting UCF up 1-0 early. For the second time this season, the Mustangs would have to come from behind versus the Knights.

Over the next 11 minutes the Mustangs pressed as they sought after an equalizer, and they would punch back in the 36th minute.

Eddie Munjoma stole the ball from a UCF midfielder, and quickly played it to a streaking Garrett McLaughlin who quickly tapped it to Knut Ahlander in the box. Ahlander was tackled just inside the 18-yard box, earning the Mustangs a penalty kick and a chance to tie the game.

Gabriel Costa would step in to take the penalty like he has most of the season, and without hesitation buried his shot in the bottom right corner of the net, tying the match at 1-1 and sending the Mustang crowd into a frenzy. It was Costa's 8th goal of the season and first of the postseason.

The remainder of the first half was played as nearly as equally as possible, with UCF taking a slight 8-7 shot advantage into the locker room. But with momentum on its side, SMU would come out on the attack in the 2nd half.

The best chance for the Mustangs after the break came in the 61st minute when Eddie Munjoma sprinted up the sideline and played a cross into the box where Lane Warrington elevated and connected with the ball, putting it on frame. UCF goalkeeper Yannik Oettl made a spectacular save and kept the game tied at 1.

The two sides would play to a 1-1 tie after 90 minutes of soccer, meaning that SMU would need its fourth OT game-winner in five matches if it wanted to play in the Elite Eight.

But the Mustangs wouldn't have to wait long once overtime began.

On its first touch of the period, UCF turned the ball over and Nicky Hernandez found Noah Hilt at midfield. Hilt then looked up and saw Munjoma streaking down the wing past his mark and played the ball in to him. Munjoma took one touch into the box and fired it across goal to the far post, past Oettl and into the back of the net.

"To be honest, I still don't really have words." Munjoma said after scoring. "I couldn't have painted a better picture of how we wanted to end our last game on Westcott."

As confetti rained down from the stands, the Mustangs celebrated a 2-1 victory and its first appearance in the Elite Eight since 2010.

SMU's historic season will continue next weekend when it travels to Virginia to take on the No. 1 seeded Virginia Cavaliers at a time to be announced later.