The SMU men’s soccer team will host Florida International on Sunday night at Westcott Field. The Mustangs currently hold an overall record of 7-4-1 and a conference record of 2-1-1.
The Panthers currently hold an overall record of 4-5-3 and a record of 1-2-1 in the Conference-USA.
The Mustangs come back home after having defeated South Carolina in double overtime at Columbia, South Carolina. SMU’s senior defender Diogo de Almeida collected a rebound shot and fired it into the net from eight yards away from the goal in the 17th minute. De Almeida earned his second goal of the season. The Gamecocks responded seven minutes later with a goal from senior midfielder Stephen Morrissey. The match was tied at the halftime.
The second half started off pretty slow, until South Carolina finally tallied a second goal for the match. Gamecock Bradlee Baladez buried the second goal for South Carolina at the back of the net. Mustang senior midfielder Peyton Hickey was then fouled in the penalty box at the 89th minute, awarding a penalty to the Mustangs. Senior midfielder Arthur
Ivo was in charge of placing the ball inside the net, right into the lower left corner of the goal. The regular time ended and the match had to be decided within two overtime halves.
After a scoreless first overtime half, a foul was committed on the Mustangs. Again, Ivo was in charge of taking the free kick. From 20 yards out of the goal, Ivo placed the ball in the right upper 90 and earned his fifth goal for the season in the 102nd minute. The Mustangs brought back home a 3-2 victory.
The Panthers will head to Dallas on Sunday after having tied to the UCF Knights in Miami, Florida. The Knights were ranked No. 6, but even then they were not able to defeat the unranked Panthers. After a scoreless first half, the match was actually stopped with 4:49 remaining in the clock. There was lighting in the area and the referees decided that the match should be cancelled, after an extensive lighting and rain delay.
The Mustangs will continue home action on Oct. 21 when they face off Missouri State for a non-conference match.
