Men's soccer wins AAC regular-season title, will host
Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2023 11:25 pmFrom SMUMustangs.com:
No. 3 SMU Secures Outright American Athletic Conference Championship, No. 1 Seed For AAC Tournament
DALLAS, Texas (SMU) — With a 2-1 win over Temple on Wednesday, No. 3 SMU has secured the 2023 outright regular-season conference championship. The Senior Night victory also secured the Mustangs the No. 1 seed in the American Athletic Conference Tournament.
Head coach Kevin Hudson (101-39-17 (.6970)) is coming off his 100th win — earned in SMU's previous 1-0 on the road against FAU. This is his fourth outright AAC Championship.
"A chance to go undefeated at home. A chance to win the league. There's a lot of things that build into this game," Hudson said. "It's a good moment for us and it puts us in a good position."
In the 14th minute, forward Alexander Petraeus crossed the ball, off of a pass from senior Jelldrik Dallmann, to Niv Berkovitz who headed it into the back of the net. This was the freshman's fifth goal this season.
"In the beginning of this year, this was what we aimed for," Berkovitz said. "And getting it, is making all of us really excited. But this is only the beginning and we are aiming for more."
The Mustangs (12-1-2, 7-0-1 AAC) honored their six seniors tonight — Nathan Ashley, Cody Black, Harvey Castro, Dallmann, Cole Johnson and Jose Ortiz.
Castro recorded a goal of his own just three minutes into the second half. Another cross from Petraeus landed to Dallmann, with Castro completing the sequence.
"It meant the world," Castro said. "I'm grateful to God for everything that has transpired this season. I couldn't have written it out any better. To be in the position we were in on senior night and to get a goal on senior night and in front of the family, in my home city, is super special. It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life."
Johnson recorded one save in the full 90 minutes of play. The only thing to slip past the senior's goal line was a score from Temple's Xavier Rimpel at the 64th minute.
"This should not be the culmination of the season," Hudson said. "This should not be the mountaintop for us. There's still a lot more to play for."
The Mustangs will begin play in the AAC Championship during the semifinal match on Thursday, Nov. 9 against the winner of USF and Memphis in the first round. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed on ESPN+. Washburne Stadium will serve as the hosting site for the entirety of the tournament — beginning on Sunday, Nov. 5 and concluding with the final on Sunday, Nov. 12.
No. 3 SMU Secures Outright American Athletic Conference Championship, No. 1 Seed For AAC Tournament
DALLAS, Texas (SMU) — With a 2-1 win over Temple on Wednesday, No. 3 SMU has secured the 2023 outright regular-season conference championship. The Senior Night victory also secured the Mustangs the No. 1 seed in the American Athletic Conference Tournament.
Head coach Kevin Hudson (101-39-17 (.6970)) is coming off his 100th win — earned in SMU's previous 1-0 on the road against FAU. This is his fourth outright AAC Championship.
"A chance to go undefeated at home. A chance to win the league. There's a lot of things that build into this game," Hudson said. "It's a good moment for us and it puts us in a good position."
In the 14th minute, forward Alexander Petraeus crossed the ball, off of a pass from senior Jelldrik Dallmann, to Niv Berkovitz who headed it into the back of the net. This was the freshman's fifth goal this season.
"In the beginning of this year, this was what we aimed for," Berkovitz said. "And getting it, is making all of us really excited. But this is only the beginning and we are aiming for more."
The Mustangs (12-1-2, 7-0-1 AAC) honored their six seniors tonight — Nathan Ashley, Cody Black, Harvey Castro, Dallmann, Cole Johnson and Jose Ortiz.
Castro recorded a goal of his own just three minutes into the second half. Another cross from Petraeus landed to Dallmann, with Castro completing the sequence.
"It meant the world," Castro said. "I'm grateful to God for everything that has transpired this season. I couldn't have written it out any better. To be in the position we were in on senior night and to get a goal on senior night and in front of the family, in my home city, is super special. It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life."
Johnson recorded one save in the full 90 minutes of play. The only thing to slip past the senior's goal line was a score from Temple's Xavier Rimpel at the 64th minute.
"This should not be the culmination of the season," Hudson said. "This should not be the mountaintop for us. There's still a lot more to play for."
The Mustangs will begin play in the AAC Championship during the semifinal match on Thursday, Nov. 9 against the winner of USF and Memphis in the first round. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. and the game will be livestreamed on ESPN+. Washburne Stadium will serve as the hosting site for the entirety of the tournament — beginning on Sunday, Nov. 5 and concluding with the final on Sunday, Nov. 12.