SMU M-Soccer Knocks Off No. 18 UCLA, 2-1
LOS ANGELES (SMU) – The SMU men’s soccer team defeated No. 18 UCLA, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Drake Stadium. Senior Arthur Ivo and sophomore Juan Castillo scored for the Mustangs. With the win, SMU moves to 5-3 on the season, while UCLA moves to 5-3-1.
“This was a huge weekend for us,” head coach Tim McClements said. “We played a very strong Cal State-Northridge team Friday night, grinding out a result. Today, we played UCLA who is nationally ranked. We scored an early goal but they responded. We kept fighting and Castillo scored a great goal that ended up winning the game. I’m really proud of the way we played this weekend; it sets us up well for our first conference game next week.”
Ivo opened the scoring 1:01 into the game, when he converted a free kick from 30 yards out. Ivo now has a team-high eight points on the season.
UCLA answered in the 11th minute when Chandler Hoffman scored his ninth goal of the season to knot the score at one.
Castillo netted his team-leading second game-winning goal of the year in the 27th minute. Redshirt freshman Tyler Engel crossed the ball into the box to Castillo who cut the ball across his body and sent the ball home from just inside the 18.
Senior Diogo de Almeida was sent off in the 74th minute with a red card, forcing the Mustangs to play a man down for the remainder of the game.
“Being down a player took a lot of energy,” McClements said. “UCLA’s a very strong team with a lot of weapons. We had to defend well, and we did. We played well a man down. It’s always tough when you go down a man against anybody, especially UCLA.”
SMU returns to Westcott Field to open Conference USA action against No. 9 UCF on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. The Knights were the only team to defeat the Mustangs during the 2010 regular season, picking up a 2-1 win on Oct. 2 in Orlando.
“It’s the biggest game of the year for us because it’s the first conference game,” McClements said. “League play is the most important part of our season. UCF has been on a roll and are ranked nationally. They beat us last year, but now we get a chance to play them at home. We’re really looking forward to starting this part of the year; it should be a great game.”
Season tickets are on sale now for $24. Individual game tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Blocks of 50 or more tickets are $1 apiece. Tickets can be purchased online at SMUMustangs.com or by calling 214-SMU-GAME (214-768-4263).
