SMU Soccer Falls In AAC Quarters

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STORRS, Conn. (SMU) – The SMU men’s soccer team fell, 5-0, to No. 14 UConn in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium. The No. 2-seeded Huskies take a 10-2-5 record into the conference semifinals, while the No. 7-seeded Mustangs finish the season at 3-12-2.

UConn broke the scoreless tie with the only goal of the first frame in the 42nd minute as Nicholas Zuniga found the back of the net after a scuffle inside the box following a free-kick from the right side.

Despite the first half tally, the teams were even at five in shots on goal and UConn only managed seven overall shots to the Mustangs’ six. SMU finished the frame with the decisive advantage in corners at, 7-1.

The second half appeared to start as evenly matched as the first, until UConn’s Cyle Larin and Mustang keeper Jaime Ibarra battled for a loose ball just inside the 18-yard box. After a collision, Larin found the ball at his feet and knocked it into an open net for an insurance goal in the 56th minute. Larin struck again off a volley in the 67th minute for his third goal against SMU in a week’s time.

What was thought to be the final netter of the match came just two minutes later as

George Fochive found the inside of the near post in the 70th minute. However, UConn added one final score with one second left on the clock as Allando Matheson scored his eighth of the season.

The Huskies outshot SMU, 18-7, and 12-6 on goal in the contest. The Mustangs finished with seven chances off of corner kicks, while UConn only managed four from the flag.

Six different SMU players accounted for the shots on goal, while Ibarra was forced into making six saves.

UConn takes a 12-match unbeaten streak to Firsco, Texas, to face UCF in the semifinals of the conference tournament at Toyota Stadium. For more information on the American Athletic Conference Championship visit TheAmerican.org.