Sophomore Juan Castillo scores against Tigers in preseason match. (Spencer J Eggers/The Daily Campus)

Expectations are set high for the SMU men’s soccer team this season and are looking forward to meeting them — and perhaps exceeding them.

“We get a chance to play William and Mary who we played in the NCAA tournament, so we know they are a great team and they play great soccer,” Head Coach Tim McClements said. “We are really looking forward to it.”

Last year the Mustangs finished with an impressive 16-2-2 record. They were only a penalty kick away from advancing to the 2010 Men’s College Cup. They fell to University of North Carolina in the Elite Eight to PK’s after a long and relentless match.

Previously to the UNC match, Mustangs met with WIlliam and Mary last year in the Sweet Sixteen NCAA round and defeated the Tribe 1-0.

Today, the Mustangs stand as the preseason pick to repeat as regular-season champions in Conference USA. The befitting pick may have something to do with the impressive line-up.

The Mustangs have five out of the six top-scorers returning this season including; Senior Arthur Ivo, league’s preseason player of the year and sophomore Juan Castillo, Conference USA Freshman of the Year 2010. Together, Ivo and Castillo posted 20 goals and nine assists last season.

Seniors Diogo de Almeida, Ian Kalis and captain Adam Still have proved themselves last season and return this season to lock up the defense.

The schedule is loaded and consists of nine of the 18 teams being NCAA Tournament teams. The first four matches include high-standing teams such as Duke, Oakland, NC State and Washington.

With all of this fire-ammo, how will the new players take on the heat? Coach McClements is confident on both flanks of his team.

“We have an incredible conference schedule this season… it’s going to be a tall order,” Coach McClements said. “I mean they are young but good. We have incredible senior and junior leadership. That is the most important part.”

Within the past two seasons, SMU has pulled five Gatorade players of the year, two of the five being freshmen this season; Aaron Simmons (Texas) and Will Smith (Oklahoma).

Senior Arthur Ivo believes these young talents are good for the present and future of SMU men’s soccer.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a senior or a freshman. It’s how individually good you are,” Ivo said. “I also think it’s good for the future of our program. We have young guys who are playing, starting, and getting minutes. It will get stronger from now into the future.”

As for sophomore Juan Castillo, taking on the heavy-packed season early on is just another form of preparation.

“I’d rather have it like that to be honest because once you get to NCAA tournament, which is what we want to do, these are the type of teams you face,” Castillo said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

It’s the first game of the season and the Mustangs plan to take it head-on.

“The first game you always want to start off strong,” defender senior Captain Adam Still said. “I feel like we are well-rested for this game compared to the last two games.”

With a forceful offense, and a solid defense led by captain Adam Still, and a string of both experienced and hungry players; what else could the Mustangs possibly need to stampede onto the fields victoriously?

“Come support us, we need you!” Castillo said.

Join the stampede at Wescott Field at 7 p.m., Saturday to help support the No. 5 Mustangs take on No. 13 William and Mary.