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MORNING BRIEFING: Youngsters power SMU
by Paul Kennedy, Monday, Sep 15, 2008 8:00 AM ET
IN THE EARLY GOING, THE only suspense has been who will be No. 2 behind defending champion Wake Forest. SMU is the latest to claim the No. 2 spot after moving up three spots thanks to a pair of wins at its Prego's Express Italian Invitational.

Senior Paulo da Silva had goals in wins over George Mason (3-0) and Oakland (3-1), but the big story was the play of the Mustang freshmen.

Like Da Silva a Brazilian exchange student, Diogo de Almeida scored the third goal against GMU, while Payton Hickey and Joe Cooper, MLS star Kenny Cooper's younger brother, both capitalized on rebounds to score against Oakland.

Let's just hope that this September boon is not followed by the traditional November swoon.

But congrats on the great start.

"Traditional"? WTF?

Losing a road game with players missing from the lineup doesn't constitute a "swoon," and if you think November "swoons" are "traditional," you clearly don't follow SMU soccer.

Since 2000, the Mustangs are 27-9-4 in November - the month when they play the best teams in their conference at the highest levels of intensity because postseason berths are on the line. That mark also includes a 9-2-1 mark in November NCAA Tournament games.

I bet a lot of coaches would gladly accept that "traditional November swoon."

Ikus wrote:"Traditional"? WTF?

Losing a road game with players missing from the lineup doesn't constitute a "swoon," and if you think November "swoons" are "traditional," you clearly don't follow SMU soccer.

Since 2000, the Mustangs are 27-9-4 in November - the month when they play the best teams in their conference at the highest levels of intensity because postseason berths are on the line. That mark also includes a 9-2-1 mark in November NCAA Tournament games.

I bet a lot of coaches would gladly accept that "traditional November swoon."

Stop being so oversensitive.

its not being over sensitive. He is right. You are wrong, again, Patton.

George S. Patton wrote:

Ikus wrote:"Traditional"? WTF?

Losing a road game with players missing from the lineup doesn't constitute a "swoon," and if you think November "swoons" are "traditional," you clearly don't follow SMU soccer.

Since 2000, the Mustangs are 27-9-4 in November - the month when they play the best teams in their conference at the highest levels of intensity because postseason berths are on the line. That mark also includes a 9-2-1 mark in November NCAA Tournament games.

I bet a lot of coaches would gladly accept that "traditional November swoon."

Stop being so oversensitive.

Stop being such an [deleted]

We're both right. And I was talking more about the NCAA tournament than the regular season and conference tournament.

1999 -- Out in the second round
2000 -- Lost to UConn in national semifinals
2001 -- No. 1 team elminated in quarterfinals
2002 -- Out in the Sweet 16
2003 -- Out in second round
2004 -- Out in Sweet 16
2005 -- Lost to Maryland in national semifinals
2006 -- Out in the second round -- when we had the bye.
2007 -- Out in the second round

I'm not trying to start a fight over the men's soccer team. But is it not true that people -- the great soccer followers -- have complained that the Hyndman era was great but had frustrating endings because great teams did not meet the postseason expectations? That's all I was saying.

I want deeper runs than the second round. I can remember how disappointed and aggravated people were with that 2006 season.

This program is too good not to consistently get to the sweet 16 every year. Is that too much to ask? Should we not be like Duke basketball that if you don't get into the Sweet 16, you've had a decent but not great season?

I think McClements will do a great job. Maybe the fresh approach is what they need. When you start 17th in the nation and move to 2nd, people can see what he's doing.

Let's have a great season that ends in DECEMBER!

[quote="Ikus"] That mark also includes a 9-2-1 mark in November NCAA Tournament games.[/quote]

Not to be a nitpicker, but that cant be right. There is no such thing as a tie in an NCAA tournament game. In tournament play there has to be a winner.

The XtC wrote:

Ikus wrote: That mark also includes a 9-2-1 mark in November NCAA Tournament games.

Not to be a nitpicker, but that cant be right. There is no such thing as a tie in an NCAA tournament game. In tournament play there has to be a winner.

Not true. There are ties in NCAA games, and a team advances based on penalty kicks. For instance, when UC-Santa Barbara won the national title a few years ago, they tied SMU at Westcott Field ... and advanced on PKs. But officially, the game goes down as a tie.

"Like Da Silva a Brazilian exchange student..." We have exchange students in college? What's that all about?

PK wrote:"Like Da Silva a Brazilian exchange student..." We have exchange students in college? What's that all about?

Probably in high school.

All four recent SMU players who hail from Brazil — Paulo da Silva, Bruno Guarda, Arthur Ivo and Diogo de Almeida — went to the Oakridge School in Arlington.

[quote="PonyPride"][quote="The XtC"][quote="Ikus"] That mark also includes a 9-2-1 mark in November NCAA Tournament games.[/quote]

Not to be a nitpicker, but that cant be right. There is no such thing as a tie in an NCAA tournament game. In tournament play there has to be a winner.[/quote]Not true. There are ties in NCAA games, and a team advances based on penalty kicks. For instance, when UC-Santa Barbara won the national title a few years ago, they tied SMU at Westcott Field ... and advanced on PKs. But officially, the game goes down as a tie.[/quote]

I see. I was under the impression that the team that won the penalty kicks was declared the winner. Oh well.

I would like us to be in the National semi finals every year. But remember every four years people graduate. Its tough to be consistently in the top 4 year in and year out. Its amazing that we've done this well. The only knock I've had is that we have been a finesse team. That works well until the NCAA tournament when teams play rough and dirty. If we meet another finesse team like Cal, UCLA or UNC we do well. But when we meet skilled thugs like Maryland, UCSB and St. Johns, we have trouble. From what I've seen this year though, we appear to be the physical team and handled a skilled team of thugs, UVA pretty handily. I think this team will do pretty well despite losing Guarda.

In the poll that matters most - the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America - SMU also jumped to No. 2!