Sparks, Chambron Pinho Leading Mustangs Into New Territory

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Sparks, Chambron Pinho Leading Mustangs Into New Territory
By Jordan Hofeditz

DALLAS (SMU) — No player on the current SMU Men's Soccer roster has played more soccer matches in an SMU jersey than Bailey Sparks and Kyran Chambron Pinho—and they've stepped up to lead SMU into a new era in the ACC.

The pair have combined to play 129 matches with 117 starts during their time with the Mustangs. It was only fitting they would combine once again to provide the match-winner as the fourth-seeded Mustangs defeated Boston College 1-0 in the first round of the ACC tournament on Wednesday night.

"Kyran and Bailey have both, they've started nearly every game for four years, outside of injury and maybe a few bit of rotations," SMU head coach Kevin Hudson said. "But yeah, they understand what it takes to win. They're both top players with really bright futures. We can lean on them … two guys who were massive."

It was Sparks' team-leading seventh goal of the season as he got his head on the corner to find the back of the net. He also leads the team with six assists, starting all 17 matches this season. Sparks started the year with a goal or assist in seven-straight and nine of the first 10 matches.

Meanwhile, it was Chambron Pinho who delivered that corner for his fifth assist of the year, tied for second on the team. He is also second on the team with five goals of his own, in 14 matches played. It was the fourth-straight game, and fifth time in six matches, Chambron Pinho had at least a goal or an assist.

"I don't think the step up in conference phased either one of those guys," Hudson said of Sparks and Chambron Pinho. "They relish those moments. Both are top players and you could play them in the ACC, you play them on Mars, they're still going to be really good. This is not something they were not prepared for. These guys were just waiting for this type of (opportunity) and they've played better in big games. This is why they came here, to play in games like this and nights like this."

The goal came on SMU's third corner attempt in under two minutes. That gave the Mustangs a chance to see how BC was defending them and take advantage.

"You know, sometimes the ball finds you and sometimes it doesn't," Sparks said. "I kind of just told Owen (Zarnick) I was going to run there, and he just painted the guy, and I was free. They didn't expect it. We knew exactly how they were just going to set up on corners and we took advantage of that."

Sparks and Chambron Pinho have developed through their four years at SMU together. They are the two over the ball on free kicks and are the corner takers, depending on which side of the field it is being taken from.

This time, they connected on a historic goal, the first SMU goal in an ACC tournament match that was the match-winner for the first ACC tournament victory.

"We came in at the exact same time and we've played together for this long now," Sparks said. "We've had our disagreements and agreements. He's a great player and he's been a good teammate to learn about and get to get used to because in football, you've got a bunch of different guys on the field, so you've got to be able to adapt and get used to new guys. Playing with him has just been a pleasure."