No. 19 SMU Soccer Defeats FIU, 3-2

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MIAMI (SMU) – The No. 19 SMU men’s soccer team defeated FIU, 3-2, Wednesday night at the FIU Soccer Stadium. Sophomore Tyler Engel, freshman Eddie Puskarich and senior Ben Hill all scored for the Mustangs. With the win, SMU improves to 9-3-2 on the season with a 5-1 mark in Conference USA action, while FIU falls to 7-4-2 (0-3-1 C-USA).

“Tonight was a very difficult match for us being on the road for as long as we have,” head coach Tim McClements said. “We wanted to get back on track after a disappointing loss to UCF on Sunday, and this was a great win. FIU is a very difficult opponent; every time we went ahead, they had a response. We picked up three important points on the road, and now we get to come home for two games.”

Engel opened the scoring with a goal in the 17th minute. Freshman John Lujano fed a ball to Engel, who cut a defender and fired a quick shot from 20 yards out for a 1-0 SMU lead. The goal was Engel’s team-leading sixth tally of the season.

FIU evened the score with a goal by Nicolas Rodriguez in the 34th minute.

Puskarich regained the lead for the Mustangs with his 59th minute tally. Engel dribbled up to the end line, cut the ball back and sent a cross into the box for a waiting Puskarich who one-timed it home. The goal was the second of the season for Puskarich.

Hill netted the eventual game-winner when he headed in a corner kick from sophomore Andrew Morales. The goal was Hill’s second of the season and first game-clincher.

“The game-winner by Ben was the result of a great set piece,” McClements said. “Andrew sent a strong cross into the box and Ben got in front of the goalie, rose like a young salmon and headed the ball home.”

FIU responded with its own header off of a corner kick as Quentin Albrecht cut SMU’s lead to 3-2 in the 86th minute.

SMU returns home for a non-conference showdown against Missouri State at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Children (age 12 and under) wearing a youth sports jersey for ANY sport will receive FREE ADMISSION to the game.

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