SMU Soccer Draws With UCF
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ORLANDO, Florida (SMU) – Junior John Lujano converted on his second penalty kick in as many American Athletic Conference games to help the SMU men’s soccer team to a 1-1 draw with conference foe UCF on Saturday evening in Orlando, Florida.
“It was a tough night in a conference match on the road and we had just played Wednesday. We gave up an early goal, but the guys showed an incredible amount of resolve to come back and tie,” Head Coach Tim McClements said. “They did a great job and battled and didn’t give up, but unfortunately we couldn’t get a goal in the overtime period. Overall, though, I am really proud.”
UCF (1-5-3, 0-0-2 The American) was signaled for a foul in their own penalty box at 89:24 to give the Mustangs (5-3-1, 1-0-1 The American) the chance for the last minute equalizer to force overtime. Lujano, who scored SMU’s first goal against Tulsa off a penalty kick on Sept. 26, stepped up to the spot and secured the tie with his second goal of the season, and perhaps some momentum carrying into the overtime periods.
Both teams went on to register a pair of shots in two overtime periods, but neither could find the match winner.
“We hit the post twice in the match, and you’d hope it would go on the right side but it ended up bouncing out. We generated a few quality chances, we were just unable to generate a goal unfortunately,” McClements said.
The Mustangs went down 1-0 to the Knights in the 50th minute when
UCF’s leading goal scorer Romario Williams converted on a 20-yard penalty kick for what UCF thought would go down as the match winner.
SMU and UCF tallied 13 shots each in the match, with the Mustangs posting the 8-3 edge in corner kicks.
Freshman Mauro Cichero led all players with eight shots, including three on goal, while Lujano, junior Idrissa Camara, sophomore Stanton Garcia and freshmen Bryce Clark and Colten Habecker added one apiece.
Michael Nelson was credited with five saves to secure the draw.
“We were maintaining a lot of possession in the game and they were very dangerous on the counter, but both teams were able to get off a few shots,” McClements said. “It was pretty exciting, but unfortunately we gave up a goal early off a set piece. It was fitting that we got one back because we deserved to get the point.”
SMU is back in action on Wednesday when they host Memphis in AAC action at Westcott Field. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT with live video and stats available at SMUMustangs.com.
