The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

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Mustangs shut out UCF, advance to conference semifinals

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(Courtesy of SMU Athletics)

Third-seeded SMU shut out No. 6 UCF 4-0 Saturday at Westcott Field.

The Mustangs rode senior Damian Rosales‘ pair of goals to advance past the Knights and improve to 10-5-2 on the year.

“We obviously got on the board first and early, and just through the run of play we were able to put in the third and fourth in the first half,” Head Coach Tim McClements said. “It changed the game and us going into half knowing we were up, 4-0, it was important that we protect the lead.”

Ten seconds into the match junior Idrissa Camara took the ball up the field and was fouled inside the 18-yard box- setting up a penalty kick.

McClements of course turned to junior John Lujano to attempt the penalty kick. It was Lujano’s fourth attempt this season and his conversion made him a perfect four-four in 2014.

Rosales then scored his first goal of the match in the 10th minute. He followed that tally with another in 33rd.

Sophomore Stanton Garcia received credit for assists on both of Rosales’ goals.

Redshirt first-year Anthony Jeffries scored the final goal of the match– his second of the season.

First-year Jared Rice delivered a corner kick that Jeffries managed to head past the goalie in the 45th minute.

The assist gives Rice a team-high eight this season.

UCF equaled SMU’s shots at 11, but the Mustangs had better looks and had seven shots on goal against the Knights four.

“UCF’s a very good team and we played down at their place and tied, 1-1, in a very close game and felt like we were in for a battle,” McClements said. “I think that the score’s not very indicative of how they are, I think they’re a very good team, sometimes you just get on a roll and the ball ends up going where you want it to go.”

Goalkeeper Michael Nelson eanred his fifth shutout of the season and made four saves. His performance improved his goals-against-average to 0.92.

The Mustangs are now 9-1-1 at Westcott this season.

Saturday’s victory also marked 150th for McClements. Sixty eight of his wins have come at SMU.

SMU will now prepare to face No. 2-seed, Tulsa, at 4:30 p.m. CT Friday in Storrs, Conn., for the American Athletic Conference semifinals. The Mustangs are 1-1 against Tulsa in 2014.

Friday’s semifinal match will be broadcast on The American Digital Network. Follow the Mustangs on Twitter for live in-game updates.

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