SMU Soccer Defeats UIC

DALLAS (SMU) – A pair of late second half goals lifted the SMU men’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over UIC on Sunday evening at Westcott Field. Sophomore Bryce Clark scored the Mustang’s first goal in the 82nd minute to even the score at 1-1 and one minute later, Stanton Garcia scored the game-winner in the 83rd minute.

UIC (1-1) went up 1-0 on the Mustangs in the 70th minute as Max Todd received a cross from teammate Abel Guzman and punched the ball in from seven yards out. It was the first goal the Mustangs have given up through preseason and their season opener on Friday.

“I think it hit them at first,” Head Coach Kevin Hudson said. “But they responded pretty well. It took us about 10 minutes to find the next goal but we continued to throw numbers forward and we were aggressive to get around the edges and create a lot of chances and eventually found our goal.”

SMU (2-0) went on the counter attack and 12 minutes later in the 82nd minute, sophomore Clark scored his first goal of the season off a pass from teammate Jacob Speed. Just over a minute later, with the game tied 1-1, Garcia recorded his second goal of the season after his header found the back of the net off a cross from Jared Rice.

“The game was a little too exciting but the resolving part of the group was good to see,” Hudson said. “They could have rolled over after giving up a goal in the 70th minute but we fought to come back and continued to push. It was good to see out of a young team and it bodes well for the future.”

The Mustangs outshot UIC 16-13 overall, Mauro Cichero leading the team with four, Speed right behind him with three. Of the 16 shots, six were on goal, which forced UIC goalkeeper Andrew Putna to make four saves.

In the net for SMU, goalkeeper Michael Nelson recorded six saves.

Next week, the Mustangs head to Boston for their first road trip of the season where they face Boston College on Friday, Sept. 4 at 4:00 p.m. CT and Harvard on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m.