VIDEO: SMU men's soccer head coach Kevin Hudson visited with PonyFans.com after the Mustangs outlasted Florida International, 6-4, at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium.
From SMUMustangs.com:
An Impressive Offensive Performance Propels SMU to a 6-4 Victory Over Florida International
DALLAS (SMU)- An impressive offensive performance propelled SMU to a 6-4 victory over Florida International Friday night at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium.
SMU (5-2-1; 1-1 AAC) earned its first American Athletic Conference victory of the season after finding the back of the net four times in the first half for the first time since Feb. 12, 2021, against USF. The Mustangs added a pair of goals after the halftime break to seal the victory.
SMU's scoring leaders Knut Ahlander and Jose Ortiz each produced their third multigoal performances of the season.
Alexander Petraeus put the Mustangs on the board first in the fourth minute, scoring in the left side of the net on an impressive shot. The AAC's assist leader added his second score of the season.
FIU answered SMU's early goal when David Garcia scored in the 17th minute.
The Mustangs would answer with three-straight goals, starting with Knut Ahlander finding the back of the net in the 22nd minute, scoring on the left side of the goal off a Nikola Djordjevic assist. Djordjevic had two assists on the night.
Jose Ortiz scored back-to-back goals for SMU, striking in the 24th minute on a shot set up by Bailey Sparks and Nikola Djordjevic. In the 35th minute, facing the opposite direction of the goal, Ortiz scored his seventh goal of the season, cashing in on an impressive bicycle kick to extend the SMU advantage.
FIU scored a pair of goals following the halftime break. Andrew Bennett scored in the 57th minute and Paulo Alves made it a one-score game in the 63rd minute.
With the Panthers threatening, Fredrik Skilberg found the back of the net for the second time this season in transition on an impressive shot that landed in the top right corner of the net.
Knut Ahlander put the finishing touches on the match with a shot from the midfield line over the FIU keeper playing up in the box, to earn the AAC's leading goal scorer his team-leading eighth goal of the season.
FIU scored its fourth goal in the 88th minute.
SMU continues conference action Friday at 7 p.m. against Temple at Washburne Stadium.