VIDEO: Salama, Nelson after women's soccer drops SFA, 3-2

[PonyPride]

VIDEO: SMU forward/midfielder Eliana Salama and women's soccer head coach Nicole Nelson met the media after Salama's goal and two assists helped the Mustangs knock off Stephen F. Austin, 3-2.



From SMUMustangs.com:

Salama Leads Mustangs In 3-2 Victory Over SFA

DALLAS (SMU) — Eliana Salama's one goal, two assist night led the SMU women's soccer program to a 3-2 victory over Stephen F. Austin on Sunday inside Washburne Stadium.

Salama began her night by scoring the opening goal of the match and then assisted on the next two Mustang goals. She recorded a career-high in points (4) and now leads the team in goals this season (3).

Truth Byars found the back of the next for the second straight game. Both Byars and Salama scored goals against Texas and have now scored in back-to-back games for the first time in their careers.

Also joining in on the scoring action was freshman Kelly Gordon who chipped in her second goal of the season off a cross-pitch feed from Salama.

The Mustangs improved to 3-1-0 on the season, while the Lumberjacks lost their first game of the year and are now 0-1-2. SMU has now won three of its first four matches to begin a season for the second time in three years under head coach Nicole Nelson. SMU went 3-0-1 in Nelson's first season in 2022.

// HOW IT HAPPENED
SMU generated scoring opportunities early, as Salama jumpstarted the Mustang offense by slipping past two defenders before sending a shot into the back of the net and giving SMU the lead (1-0).

The Mustangs continued to apply pressure as Salama sent a shot on goal, corralled the rebound, and then found Truth Byars open at the top of the box, who blasted a shot into the top right corner, putting SMU up 2-0.

SFA would respond in the 41st minute as the Lumberjacks Ava Shannon cut into the SMU lead.

SMU would head into the half-up 2-1 despite being outshot by SFA.

The Salama show continued in the 50th minute as she found a slashing Kelly Gordon on a pristine cross-pitch feed, who chipped a shot over the SFA goalkeeper to give SMU a 3-1 lead.

The Lumberjacks would score once more in the 88th minute, as SMU would hang on to its lead and walk away with a 3-2 victory.

// OTHER NOTES
Sunday's win marked the first time since 2004 that the Mustangs have scored at least three goals in four straight matches.

SMU is now 4-0-0 all-time versus SFA.

In her third season as head coach of the Mustangs, Nicole Nelson is now 24-11-6.

SMU improved to 13-4-2 at home under Nelson.

Nelson remains undefeated all-time against SFA, (4-0-0).

SMU now holds a record of 21-5-3 at home since 2021.

The Mustangs are now 465-241-59 all-time in program history.