Men's Soccer Beats No. 16 Creighton

[PonyPride]

The No. 18 SMU men's soccer team got a goal from freshman forward (and reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week) Juan Castillo and a pair of penalty kicks from junior Arthur Ivo to knock off No. 16 Creighton, 3-2, in double overtime Friday night in the first round of the Bradley University/Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic in Peoria, Ill.

The Ponies remained perfect on the season, improving their record to 6-0-0 while handing the Bluejays (4-1-0) their first loss of the season. The victory improved the Ponies' all-time record against Creighton to 17-6-1.

SMU will play Bradley Sunday. SMU holds a 6-3-3 advantage in the series. Sunday's game will be a year and a day after the teams last met. SMU got goals from Paulo da Silva and Brandon Pfluger to shut out Bradley, 2-0, last year in Dallas.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

What a great way to solidify and justify the Top 25 ranking!

Go Ponies!

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

M-Soccer Defeats No. 16 Creighton In 2OT
Mustangs Move To 6-0-0 On The Season

Sept. 17, 2010

PEORIA, Ill. (SMU) - The No. 18 SMU men's soccer team defeated No. 16 Creighton with a come-from-behind 3-2 double-overtime win in the Bradley Tournament Friday night. Freshman Juan Castillo scored a goal and junior Arthur Ivo converted two penalty kicks for the Mustangs. SMU is now 6-0-0 on the season.

"It was a tale of two halves," said head coach Tim McClements. "At halftime, we regrouped and refocused. We were able to play our game, match their intensity. The guys showed a tremendous amount of character and a lot of fight. I'm really proud of performance."

Castillo started the Mustang comeback with a goal in the 69th minute. Goalkeeper Craig Hill punted the ball out of the defensive end, and Castillo ran on to it for a quick counter-attack. The goal was Castillo's team-leading fifth goal of the season. The assist was Hill's first point of his career.

Ivo added the equalizer, converting a penalty kick in the 76th minute. SMU was awarded the shot when Ivo was taken down in the box by a Creighton defender. Ivo also netted the game-winner on a penalty kick in the 103rd minute after Castillo was taken fouled in the box. The goals were Ivo's first of the year. SMU is now three-for-three on penalty kicks this season.

"He really did an excellent job," said McClements of Ivo. "Arthur had great placement on the shots. He's been playing so well, so the fact that he scored tonight very fitting."

Diogo de Almeida stopped a point-blank shot by Jose Gomez in the 83rd minute to keep the game tied at two.

Creighton opened the scoring in the 39th minute when Andrew Ribeiro took a shot from the top of the box and sent the ball into the bottom corner just inside the near post. Less than two minutes later, the Jays added another goal when Ethan Finlay tapped the ball in from three yards out.

SMU faces tournament host Bradley Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

[mustangbill67]

Boys playing well. Look forward to a productive season.

[smusoccer]

Well done boys!!! Lets keep it going.

[Charleston Pony]

now that's a quality win

[gk00dad]

Great win last night. Here's another article, this one from Pro Player Pipeline.

http://proplayerpipeline.wordpress.com/

[ponyscott]

It just takes some time for the players to respond to the coach and his methods.....look at what has happened with our ex-SMU Soccer coach Hyndman with FC Dallas. They wanted to run him out of town on a rail the first two years after he left SMU and now they love him as he is winning big time with a long winning streak.. Just have to be patient.
The soccer recruits are coming around and the talent is there.