SMU Soccer Downs UCF
DALLAS (SMU) – A pair of first half goals by sophomore Mauro Cichero lifted the SMU men’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over UCF Friday evening at Westcott Field. The Mustangs, who are receiving votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Coaches Poll, move to 7-2-2 overall, with a 2-0 conference mark. UCF fell to 3-5-1 and 0-2-1 in American Athletic Conference action.
UCF went up 1-0 on the Mustangs in the 5th minute as Hadji Barry received a cross from teammate Juan Gamino and punched it in from inside the six-yard box. It was the first goal the Mustangs have given up since their 3-1 victory over Houston Baptist on Sept. 17.
“I think we played well and it was a great effort,” Head Coach Kevin Hudson said. “We started slow and gave up a bad goal in the beginning but I’m happy with the team’s performance. Once we started to come into the game we overwhelmed them with our aggressive nature and how we wanted to defend.”
SMU went on the counter attack and in the 34th minute, Cichero got his head on a Bryce Clark cross and placed the ball in the top center of the goal. The goal was Cichero’s fifth of the season and the
assist was Clark’s first of the season.
Just under three minutes later, with the game tied 1-1, Cichero fired a shot off from 30 yards out and found the back of the net to tally his sixth goal of the season. Freshman Emil Cuello was credited with the assist, his third of the season.
“Mauro is not always dangerous in the air but when he has time and space, he’s able to go get it,” Hudson said. “He’s that type of player. We expect a lot out of him and he’s continuing to develop and become more of a leader in the group.”
SMU outshot UCF 16-5 overall, Cichero leading the team with five, Brenden Lee behind him with three and Cuello adding two of his own. Of the 16 shots, nine were on goal, which forced UCF goalkeeper Zach Biggs to make seven saves for the Knights.
In the net for the Mustangs, goalkeeper Michael Nelson recorded two saves, both coming in the second half.
Up next, the Ponies head to Memphis, Tennessee to take on Memphis on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at Mike Rose Stadium.
“Memphis is a big game,” Hudson said. “I think we need to continue to perform at the level we’re performing at and continue to grow as a group. We’re in a decent place and we fully expect to go in with the intention to play well and see what the results bring.”
