SMU Soccer Players Earn C-USA Honors
{fshare id=3014}
DALLAS (SMU) – SMU men’s soccer players Jaime Ibarra, Damian Rosales and Aaron Simmons have earned weekly honors after helping the Mustangs post a 2-0 record in back-to-back shutouts to win the SMU Classic Presented by Jason’s Deli over the weekend.
Ibarra, a junior goalkeeper, was tabbed the Conference USA Co-Defensive Player of the Week and MVP of the SMU Classic after recording two clean sheets for the Mustangs. Ibarra made three saves Friday night as SMU earned a 1-0 overtime win against Oakland. Ibarra’s biggest save came in the 80th minute when Oakland’s Johnny Dreshaj was taken down in the box and awarded a penalty kick. Dreshaj stepped up to the mark and sent the ball right, but Ibarra made a diving save to keep the game scoreless and send the game to extra time. Sunday, Ibarra recorded three more saves as SMU shut out UC Davis. The award is the second Player of the Week honor in Ibarra’s career.
Rosales, a sophomore defender, was named to the TopDrawerSoccer National
Team of the Week. Rosales played the duration of both matches on the Mustang back line and was an integral part of the defense’s perfect weekend. For his efforts, Rosales was named to the SMU Classic All-Tournament team.
Simmons, a sophomore defender, was selected to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week. Simmons played all 184 minutes on defense for SMU, but he also netted the last-minute game-winner in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over UC Davis. Simmons scored his first goal of the season after SMU was awarded a free kick from 21 yards out. Sophomore Andrew Morales took the kick, finding Simmons in the box who headed the ball home with 1:24 left in regulation. Simmons was also selected to the SMU Classic All-Tournament team.
SMU hosts CSU-Bakersfield on Thursday at Westcott Field at 7 p.m.
Individual game tickets are $6 for adults, and $3 for children 12 and under. Special group ticket prices are available. Tickets can be purchased online at SMUMustangs.com or by calling 214-SMU-GAME.
